G.S. Virk, G. Muscato, A. Semerano, M. Armada and H.A. Warren
This paper presents the EC funded Climbing and walking robotics project and its activities to encourage the development of a common framework to assist researchers and companies…
Abstract
This paper presents the EC funded Climbing and walking robotics project and its activities to encourage the development of a common framework to assist researchers and companies to focus at the component level to make the required innovations. An open modular philosophy is felt to be needed to allow the robotics technology to evolve so that the wide and growing range of service applications can be adequately supported. The current and future planned activities are briefly described.
G. Muscato, D. Caltabiano, S. Guccione, D. Longo, M. Coltelli, A. Cristaldi, E. Pecora, V. Sacco, P. Sim, G.S. Virk, P. Briole, A. Semerano and T. White
ROBOVOLC is a new robotic system that has been designed to help scientists in the exploration of volcanoes. It is composed of three subsystems: a rover platform with six…
Abstract
ROBOVOLC is a new robotic system that has been designed to help scientists in the exploration of volcanoes. It is composed of three subsystems: a rover platform with six articulated and independently actuated wheels; a manipulator arm to collect rock samples, drop and pick up sensors and sample gas; and a pan‐tilt turret with a high resolution camera, video‐camera, infrared camera and a doppler radar for gas speed measurement. This paper contains a short description of the system, following an introduction to the problem and review of the state‐of‐the‐art. Finally, results from the first test campaign on Mount Etna during September 2002 are briefly described.
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.
Details
Keywords
Tanmoy Hazra, C.R.S. Kumar and Manisha Nene
The purpose of this paper is to propose a model for a target searching problem in a two-dimensional region with time constraints. The proposed model facilitates the search…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a model for a target searching problem in a two-dimensional region with time constraints. The proposed model facilitates the search operation by minimizing the mission time and fuel usage, and the search operation is performed by a set of agents divided into a number of groups.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors have applied optimization techniques, Cartesian product, inclusion–exclusion principle, cooperative strategy, Shapley value, fuzzy Shapley function and Choquet integral to model the problem.
Findings
The proposed technique optimizes the placement of base stations that minimizes the sortie length of the agents. The results show that the cooperative strategy outperforms the non-cooperative strategy. The Shapley values quantify the rewards of each group based on their contributions to the search operation, whereas the fuzzy Shapley values determine the rewards of each group based on their contributions and level of cooperation in the search operation.
Practical implications
The proposed model can be applied to model many real-time problems such as patrolling in international borders, urban areas, forests and managing rescue operations after natural calamities, etc. Therefore, defence organizations, police departments and other operation management sectors will be benefitted by applying the proposed approach.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, determining the optimal locations of base stations in a region is not explored in the existing works on target searching problems with fuel constraints. The proposed approach to cooperatively search the targets in a region is new. Introducing the Shapley function and fuzzy Shapley function is a novel idea to quantify the rewards of each group based on their contributions and level of cooperation in the search operation. This paper addresses these unexplored areas.
Details
Keywords
Presents the state‐of‐the‐art in industrial mobile robotics within Europe and how the future industrial requirements can best be satisfied. States that the focus for the…
Abstract
Presents the state‐of‐the‐art in industrial mobile robotics within Europe and how the future industrial requirements can best be satisfied. States that the focus for the development of mobile robotic vehicles has been in hazardous applications such as the nuclear industry, petrochemical plants and offshore operations, but the same technology has potential for use in other areas ranging from construction, outdoor applications (forestry, anti‐personnel mine clearing), mining and leisure. Presents the results of the investigations carried out for the Brite Euram Thematic Network on climbing and walking robots where most of the countries in the European Union have been considered in the studies. Reports a major finding that mobile robots have an enormous potential for commercial exploitation but first some fundamental problems need to be solved; these concern improvements in sensors, actuators and powering technologies. Argues that the robots of the future also need to have strong autonomous capabilities, must be able to self‐learn as well as be reliable for continuous operation. Identifies modularity as a key feature requiring careful attention so that future machines can be easily and rapidly prototyped for new applications.
Details
Keywords
Patrick Sim, Vincenzo Sacco and Gurvinder Singh Virk
This paper presents the development of the user interface for the Robovolc volcano exploration robot. The discussion examines the important issues, concepts that need to be…
Abstract
This paper presents the development of the user interface for the Robovolc volcano exploration robot. The discussion examines the important issues, concepts that need to be considered and the lessons learnt during the overall development phase. The process by which the final user interface was developed is also described, examining the key stages and decisions that were made. Lastly, results of the final tests carried out on Mount Etna are also discussed.
Details
Keywords
Ziyu Liao, Bai Chen, Tianzuo Chang, Qian Zheng, Keming Liu and Junnan Lv
Supernumerary robotic limbs (SRLs) are a new type of wearable robot, which improve the user’s operating and perceive the user’s environment by extra robotic limbs. There are some…
Abstract
Purpose
Supernumerary robotic limbs (SRLs) are a new type of wearable robot, which improve the user’s operating and perceive the user’s environment by extra robotic limbs. There are some literature reviews about the SRLs’ key technology and development trend, but the design of SRLs has not been fully discussed and summarized. This paper aims to focus on the design of SRLs and provides a comprehensive review of the ontological structure design of SRLs.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the related literature of SRLs is summarized and analyzed by VOSviewer. The structural features of different types of SRLs are extracted, and then discuss the design approach and characteristics of SRLs which are different from typical wearable robots.
Findings
The design concept of SRLs is different from the conventional wearable robots. SRLs have various reconfiguration and installed positions, and it will influence the safety and cooperativeness performance of SRLs.
Originality/value
This paper focuses on discussing the structural design of SRLs by literature review, and this review will help researchers understand the structural features of SRLs and key points of the ontological design of SRLs, which can be used as a reference for designing SRLs.
Details
Keywords
Eunil Park and Angel P. del Pobil
The purpose of this paper is to understand users' acceptance of service robots by integrating perceived enjoyment of service robots and users' need to belong in a technology…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand users' acceptance of service robots by integrating perceived enjoyment of service robots and users' need to belong in a technology acceptance model (TAM) framework. Service robots are currently being used in homes and firms to provide various services.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a web‐based survey from 904 users in South Korea to test a research model and employed structural equation modelling as the analysis method.
Findings
This study found that perceived enjoyment and the need to belong played an important role in the perceived ease of use and usefulness of service robots. Furthermore, it was discovered that the research supported relationships proposed by the original TAM with regard to users' attitudes and intentions to use service robots. Therefore, this study provides a framework to understand users' acceptance of service robots.
Originality/value
This paper is of value to researchers designing and improving service robots for use in our society.