Mobility Reconfiguration for Terrain Exploration using Active Vision

ISBN-13: 9783639132663 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 84 str.

Douglas Brooks

Opis

The ability of robotic units to navigate various terrains is critical to the advancement of robotic operation in real world environments. Next generation robots will need to adapt to their environment in order to accomplish tasks that are either too hazardous, too time consuming, or physically impossible for human-beings. Such tasks may include accurate and rapid explorations of various planets or potentially dangerous areas on planet Earth. This book investigates a navigation control methodology for a wheel-legged robot based on active vision. The method presented is designed to control the reconfigurability of the robot (i.e. control the usage of the wheels and legs), depending upon the obstacle/terrain, based on perception. Surface estimation for robot reconfigurability is implemented using a region growing method and a characterization and traversability assessment generated from camera data. As a result, a mathematical approach that directs necessary navigation behavior is implemented to control robot mobility. The analysis and resultsshould be useful to professionals interested in thefuture of Robotics and its potential impact on society.

O autorze

Douglas Brooks is a native of Pittsboro, North Carolina. He
received his B.S. in EE from N.C. State University and his M.S.
in ECE from Georgia Tech. Douglas s accolades include the NASA
Harriet G. Jenkins Fellowship and being deemed as one of the 100
Most Influential Black Alumni at N.C. State University.