During the last decade, there has been significant progress toward a supervised autonomous robotic capability for remotely controlled scientific exploration of planetary surfaces. While planetary exploration potential...
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ISBN:
(纸本)081944300X
During the last decade, there has been significant progress toward a supervised autonomous robotic capability for remotely controlled scientific exploration of planetary surfaces. While planetary exploration potentially encompasses many elements ranging from orbital remote sensing to subsurface drilling, the surface robotics element is particularly important to advancing in situ science objectives. Surface activities include a direct characterization of geology, mineralogy, atmosphere and other descriptors of current and historical planetary processes-and ultimately-the return of pristine samples to Earth for detailed analysis. Toward these ends, we have conducted a broad program of research on robotic systems for scientific exploration of the Mars surface, with minimal remote intervention. The goal is to enable high productivity semi-autonomous science operations where available mission time is concentrated on robotic operations, rather than up-and-down-link delays. Results of our work include prototypes for landed manipulators, long-ranging science rovers, sampling/sample return mobility systems, and more recently, terrain-adaptive reconfigurable/modular robots and closely cooperating multiple rover systems. The last of these are intended to facilitate deployment of planetary robotic outposts for an eventual human-robot sustained scientific presence. We overview our progress in these related areas of planetary robotics R&D, spanning 1995-to-present.
This paper presents the design, implementation and testing of a real-time system using computervision and machine learning techniques to demonstrate learning behavior in a miniature mobile robot. The miniature robot,...
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ISBN:
(纸本)0780365763
This paper presents the design, implementation and testing of a real-time system using computervision and machine learning techniques to demonstrate learning behavior in a miniature mobile robot. The miniature robot, through environmental sensing, learns to navigate a maze choosing the optimum route. Several reinforcement learning based algorithms, such as the Q-learning, Q(/spl lambda/)-learning, fast online Q(/spl lambda/)-learning and DYNA structure, are considered. Experimental results based on simulation and an integrated real-time system are presented for varying density of obstacles in a 15/spl times/15 maze.
Diffractive 2D and 3D grating optics as enabling technologies are on a good way to technically realize specific features well known in human vision. How does the human eye do its job in visual information processing?
ISBN:
(纸本)0819438626
Diffractive 2D and 3D grating optics as enabling technologies are on a good way to technically realize specific features well known in human vision. How does the human eye do its job in visual information processing?
A new concept for knowledge representation and structure of the knowledge module for vision-guided robots is introduced. It allows the robot to acquire, accumulate and adapt automatically whatever knowledge it may nee...
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ISBN:
(纸本)0819438626
A new concept for knowledge representation and structure of the knowledge module for vision-guided robots is introduced. It allows the robot to acquire, accumulate and adapt automatically whatever knowledge it may need and to gain experience in the course of its normal operation, i.e., learning by doing, thus, to improve its skills and operating speed over time. The knowledge module is structured into a set of a fairly independent submodules each performing a limited task, and sub-knowledge bases each contains limited knowledge. Such a structure allows to use the acquired knowledge flexibly and efficiently. It makes also easily to extend the knowledge base when the robot's number of degrees of freedom that must be controlled increases. The concept was realized and evaluated in real-world experiments on an uncalibrated vision-guided 5-DOF manipulator to grasp a variety of differently shaped objects.
An intelligent robot is a remarkably useful combination of a manipulator, sensors and controls. The current use of these machines in outer space, medicine, hazardous materials, defense applications and industry is bei...
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ISBN:
(纸本)0819438626
An intelligent robot is a remarkably useful combination of a manipulator, sensors and controls. The current use of these machines in outer space, medicine, hazardous materials, defense applications and industry is being pursued with vigor. In factory automation, industrial robots can improve productivity, increase product quality and improve competitiveness. The computer and the robot have both been developed during recent times. The intelligent robot combines both technologies and requires a thorough understanding and knowledge of mechatronics. Today's robotic machines are faster, cheaper, more repeatable, more reliable and safer than ever. The knowledge base of inverse kinematic and dynamic solutions and intelligent controls is increasing. More attention is being given by industry to robots, vision and motion controls. New areas of usage are emerging for service robots, remote manipulators and automated guided vehicles. Economically, the robotics industry now has more than a billion-dollar market in the U.S. and is growing. Feasibility studies show decreasing costs for robots and unaudited healthy rates of return for a variety of robotic applications. However, the road from inspiration to successful application can be long and difficult, often taking decades to achieve a new product. A greater emphasis on mechatronics is needed in our universities. Certainly, more cooperation between government, industry and universities is needed to speed the development of intelligentrobots that will benefit industry and society. The fearful robot stories may help us prevent future disaster. The inspirational robot ideas may inspire the scientists of tomorrow. However, the intelligent robot ideas, which can be reduced to practice, will change the world.
This paper presents a control mechanism for video transmission that relies on transmitting non-uniform resolution images depending on the delay of the communication channel. These images are built in an active way to ...
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ISBN:
(纸本)0819438626
This paper presents a control mechanism for video transmission that relies on transmitting non-uniform resolution images depending on the delay of the communication channel. These images are built in an active way to keep the areas of interest of the image at the highest resolution available. In order to shift the area of high resolution over the image and to achieve a data structure easy to process by using conventional algorithms, a shifted fovea multiresolution geometry of adaptive size is used. Besides, if delays are nevertheless too high, the different areas of resolution of the image can be transmitted at different rates. A functional system has been developed for corridor surveillance with static cameras. Tests with real video images have proven that the method allows an almost constant rate of images per second as long as the channel is not collapsed.
The purpose of this paper is to compare three methods for three-dimensional measurements of line position used for the vision guidance to navigate an autonomous mobile robot. A model is first developed to map three di...
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ISBN:
(纸本)0819438626
The purpose of this paper is to compare three methods for three-dimensional measurements of line position used for the vision guidance to navigate an autonomous mobile robot. A model is first developed to map three dimensional ground points into image points to be developed using homogeneous coordinates. Then using the ground plane constraint, the inverse transformation that maps image points into three dimensional ground points is determined. And then the system identification problem is solved using a calibration device. Calibration data is used to determine the model parameters by minimizing the mean square error between model and calibration points. A novel simplification is then presented which provides surprisingly accurate results. This method is called the magic matrix approach and uses only the calibration data. A more standard variation of this approach is also considered. The significance of this work is that it shows that three methods that are based on three-dimensional measurements may be used for mobile robot navigation and that a simple method can achieve accuracy to a fraction of an inch which is sufficient in some applications.
Our goal is to design and to achieve a multiple purpose vision system for various robotics applications :wheeled robots (like cars for autonomous driving), legged robots (six, four (SONY's AIBO) legged robots, and...
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ISBN:
(纸本)0819438626
Our goal is to design and to achieve a multiple purpose vision system for various robotics applications :wheeled robots (like cars for autonomous driving), legged robots (six, four (SONY's AIBO) legged robots, and humanoid), flying robots (to inspect bridges for example) in various conditions: indoor or outdoor. Considering that the constraints depend on the application, we propose an edge segmentation implemented either in software, or in hardware using CPLDs (ASICs or FPGAs could be used too). After discussing the criteria of our choice, we propose a chain of image processing operators constituting an edge segmentation. Although this chain is quite simple and very fast to perform, results appear satisfactory, We proposed a software implementation of it. Its temporal optimization is based on : its implementation under the pixel data flow programming model, the gathering of local processing when it is possible, the simplification of computations, and the use of fast access data structures. Then, we describe a first dedicated hardware implementation of the first part, which requires 9 CPLS in this low cost version. It is technically possible, but more expensive, to implement these algorithms using only a single FPGA.
Particulate materials undergo processing in many industries, and therefore there are significant commercial motivators for attaining improvements in the flow and packing behavior of powders. This can be achieved by mo...
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ISBN:
(纸本)0819438626
Particulate materials undergo processing in many industries, and therefore there are significant commercial motivators for attaining improvements in the flow and packing behavior of powders. This can be achieved by modeling the effects of particle size, friction, and most importantly, particle shape or morphology. The method presented here for simulating powders employs a random number generator to construct a model of a random particle by combining a sphere with a number of smaller spheres. The resulting 3D model particle has a 'nodular' type of morphology, which is similar to that exhibited by the atomized powders that are used in the bulk of powder metallurgy (PM) manufacture. The irregularity of the model particles is dependent upon vision system data gathered from microscopic analysis of real powder particles. A methodology is proposed whereby randomly generated model particles of various sizes and irregularities can be combined in a random packing simulation. The proposed Monte Carlo technique would allow incorporation of the effects of gravity, wall friction, and inter-particle friction. The improvements in simulation realism that this method is expected to provide would prove useful for controlling powder production, and for predicting die fill behavior during the production of PM parts.
A method is discussed describing how different types of Omni-Directional "fisheye" lenses can be calibrated for use in robotic vision. The technique discussed will allow for full calibration and correction o...
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ISBN:
(纸本)0819438626
A method is discussed describing how different types of Omni-Directional "fisheye" lenses can be calibrated for use in robotic vision. The technique discussed will allow for full calibration and correction of x,y pixel coordinates while only taking two uncalibrated and one calibrated measurement. These are done by finding the observed x,y coordinates of a calibration target. Any Fisheye lens that has a roughly spherical shape can have its distortion corrected with this technique, Two measurements are taken to discover the edges and centroid of the lens. These can be done automatically by the computer and does not require any knowledge about the lens or the location of the calibration target. A third measurement is then taken to discover the degree of spherical distortion, This is done by comparing the expected measurement to the measurement obtained and then plotting a curve that describes the degree of distortion. Once the degree of distortion is known and a simple curve has been fitted to the distortion shape, the equation of that distortion and the simple dimensions of the lens are plugged into an equation that remains the same for all types of lenses. The technique has the advantage of needing only one calibrated measurement to discover the type of lens bring used.
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