Aims to review the Clawar 2005 conference on climbing and walking robots.
Abstract
Purpose
Aims to review the Clawar 2005 conference on climbing and walking robots.
Design/methodology/approach
Selects key papers from the conference and presents a brief outline of the research undertaken and the conclusions reached.
Findings
Speakers told of the latest developments in humanoid robots; space applications; personal assistance robots; and NDT, security and surveillance. Sessions also covered innovations in sensing and sensor fusion; climbing, navigation and path planning, gait generation, manipulation; hopping and legged robots; flexible manipulators; and control.
Originality/value
Outlines trends in the development of climbing and walking robots.
Details
Keywords
Mikko Heikkilä, Sami Terho, Minna Hirsi, Aarne Halme and Pekka Forsman
This paper seeks to describe how signs can be used as a part of the work task scenarios with service robot.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to describe how signs can be used as a part of the work task scenarios with service robot.
Design/methodology/approach
The signs are used to control a work task of a mobile service robot. Tests are done in real outdoor and non‐structured environments with the WorkPartner robot. In the test scenario the signs are used to define the boundaries of a working area. Two different kinds of signs are tested: passive and active.
Findings
The signs can be used as a simple way to define the parameters of a work task. One of the advantages is usability. For example, the signs can just be carried to the working area and no other actions are needed.
Research limitations/implications
The tests focused only on bounding the working area with signs. Using the signs for pointing a direction, marking a route, or defining a location of a single target will be tested in the future.
Practical implications
Signs are an easy way to configure work tasks of service robots. The concept can be applied to various kinds of mobile robots.
Originality/value
The signs are introduced as an alternative or complementary tool for passing information of the task plan of a work task from the human operator to the service robot.
Details
Keywords
Aarne Halme, Tobias Luksch and Sami Ylönen
WorkPartner (WP), is the prototype of a mobile centaur‐like service robot designed to work interactively with humans in an outdoor environment. It moves using four wheeled legs…
Abstract
WorkPartner (WP), is the prototype of a mobile centaur‐like service robot designed to work interactively with humans in an outdoor environment. It moves using four wheeled legs and has a human‐like upper body. Tasks executed by the robot are similar to those that a human can do; the robot may replace or work together with people. Mobility is based on a hybrid system, which combines the benefits of both legs and wheels to provide good terrain negotiating capability and a large velocity range on variable ground. The robot is powered by a hybrid power system with electrical actuation and energy storage in the form of gasoline. The robot is equipped with a human‐like two‐hand manipulator. The long‐term goal is to develop an adaptive and learning robot, which can carry tools and work interactively with humans.
Reviews the highlights of a two‐day European colloquium on information technology for climbing and walking robots held at the University of Portsmouth, UK, with progress reports…
Abstract
Reviews the highlights of a two‐day European colloquium on information technology for climbing and walking robots held at the University of Portsmouth, UK, with progress reports on a Brite Euram project.