Start Date
14-5-2021 11:30 AM
End Date
14-5-2021 11:50 AM
Document Type
Full Paper
Keywords
Ad-Hoc Mesh Network, Machine Learning, SLAM, Multi-Master, Multi-Robot Autonomy, ROS, BATMAN, Computer Vision, Robotics Education, STEM Education
Description
Industry is continuously exploring new methods to enhance automation, as a way to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Multi-robot communication and cooperation is expected to become a vital aspect of these automated systems. There are many important applications in public safety, such as search and rescue operations, or performance of other dangerous tasks, such as fighting fires. Coordinated groups of people traditionally perform these tasks in large-scale cooperative efforts. Implementing cooperative efforts in teams of autonomous robots can be done in a variety of ways, utilizing many different systems and networked architectures. While there is much interest in this field, the initial time and economic investment of robots capable of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) present a significant obstacle for new research in this area. From an educational perspective, there are not many affordable platforms from which to base the curriculum, nor are there many complete informational resources available, which would allow inexperienced users to assemble and potentially operate these systems. This paper will examine and demonstrate the feasibility of an efficient and affordable multi-robot platform, which is suitable for cooperative robotics and autonomy research applications, while also being approachable for various levels of education.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5038/KAET4037
An Affordable Education and Research Platform for Multi-Robot Autonomy
Industry is continuously exploring new methods to enhance automation, as a way to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Multi-robot communication and cooperation is expected to become a vital aspect of these automated systems. There are many important applications in public safety, such as search and rescue operations, or performance of other dangerous tasks, such as fighting fires. Coordinated groups of people traditionally perform these tasks in large-scale cooperative efforts. Implementing cooperative efforts in teams of autonomous robots can be done in a variety of ways, utilizing many different systems and networked architectures. While there is much interest in this field, the initial time and economic investment of robots capable of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) present a significant obstacle for new research in this area. From an educational perspective, there are not many affordable platforms from which to base the curriculum, nor are there many complete informational resources available, which would allow inexperienced users to assemble and potentially operate these systems. This paper will examine and demonstrate the feasibility of an efficient and affordable multi-robot platform, which is suitable for cooperative robotics and autonomy research applications, while also being approachable for various levels of education.