3,298 research outputs found
Introducing autonomous aerial robots in industrial manufacturing
Although ground robots have been successfully used for many years in manufacturing, the capability of aerial
robots to agilely navigate in the often sparse and static upper part of factories makes them suitable for performing
tasks of interest in many industrial sectors. This paper presents the design, development, and validation of a fully
autonomous aerial robotic system for manufacturing industries. It includes modules for accurate pose estimation
without using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), autonomous navigation, radio-based localization,
and obstacle avoidance, among others, providing a fully onboard solution capable of autonomously performing
complex tasks in dynamic indoor environments in which all necessary sensors, electronics, and processing are on
the robot. It was developed to fulfill two use cases relevant in many industries: light object logistics and missing tool
search. The presented robotic system, functionalities, and use cases have been extensively validated with
Technology Readiness Level 7 (TRL-7) in the Centro BahÃa de C´
adiz (CBC) Airbus D&S factory in fully working
conditions.Comisión Europea 60884Horizonte 2020 (Unión Europea) 871479Plan Nacional de I+D+I DPI2017-8979-
A Hybrid Metric for Navigation of Autonomous Intralogistics Vehicles in Mixed Indoor and Outdoor Operation
While autonomous guided vehicle systems are increasingly used in homogeneous and structured environments, their use in complex and variable scenarios is usually limited. Established algorithms for the navigation of systems use static maps with deterministic metrics, which can only achieve optimal results in clearly defined environments. In dynamic and extensive deployment scenarios, which are also dependent on a large number of influencing parameters, autonomous intralogistics systems cannot yet be deployed dynamically. One example here is mixed transport between buildings under changing weather conditions. As a solution for dynamic navigation, we propose a hybrid metric in combination with topological maps and cyclic environmental sensing. Based on a quantification of influencing factors on each intralogistics entity, an optimal and dynamic navigation of every system can be performed at any time. The individual components are implemented in the context of an autonomous tow truck system and evaluated in different application scenarios. The results show significant added value in use cases with sudden weather changes and complex route networks
A Safe, Efficient and Integrated Indoor Robotic Fleet for Logistic Applications in Healthcare and Commercial Spaces: The ENDORSE Concept
International audienceHospitals are rightfully considered a field of indoor logistic robotics of high commercial potential. However, today, only a handful of mobile robotic solutions for hospital logistics exist that have failed to trigger widespread acceptance by the market. This is because existing systems require costly infrastructure installation, they do not easily integrate to corporate IT solutions, are not adequately shielded from cybersecurity threats, and as a result, they do not fully automate procedures and traceability of the items they carry. Moreover, existing systems are limited on scope, focusing only on delivery services, and hence do not provide any other type of support to the medical and nursing staff. ENDORSE system will address the aforementioned technical challenges and functional limitations by pursuing four innovation pillars: (i) infrastructure-less multi-robot indoor navigation; (ii) advanced Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) for resolving deadlocks and achieving efficient sharing of space resources in crowded environments; (iii) deployment of the ENDORSE software as a cloud-based service facilitating its integration with corporate software solutions, complying with GDPR data security requirements; (iv) reconfigurable and modular hardware architectures so that diverse modules can be easily swapped. ENDORSE functionality will be demonstrated via the integration of an e-diagnostic support module for vital signs monitoring on a fleet of mobile robots, facilitating connectivity to cloud-based Electronic Health Records (EHR), and validated in an operational hospital environment for realistic assessment
Post-Westgate SWAT : C4ISTAR Architectural Framework for Autonomous Network Integrated Multifaceted Warfighting Solutions Version 1.0 : A Peer-Reviewed Monograph
Police SWAT teams and Military Special Forces face mounting pressure and
challenges from adversaries that can only be resolved by way of ever more
sophisticated inputs into tactical operations. Lethal Autonomy provides
constrained military/security forces with a viable option, but only if
implementation has got proper empirically supported foundations. Autonomous
weapon systems can be designed and developed to conduct ground, air and naval
operations. This monograph offers some insights into the challenges of
developing legal, reliable and ethical forms of autonomous weapons, that
address the gap between Police or Law Enforcement and Military operations that
is growing exponentially small. National adversaries are today in many
instances hybrid threats, that manifest criminal and military traits, these
often require deployment of hybrid-capability autonomous weapons imbued with
the capability to taken on both Military and/or Security objectives. The
Westgate Terrorist Attack of 21st September 2013 in the Westlands suburb of
Nairobi, Kenya is a very clear manifestation of the hybrid combat scenario that
required military response and police investigations against a fighting cell of
the Somalia based globally networked Al Shabaab terrorist group.Comment: 52 pages, 6 Figures, over 40 references, reviewed by a reade
Impact of COVID-19 on iot adoption in healthcare, smart homes, smart buildings, smart cities, transportation and industrial IoT
COVID-19 has disrupted normal life and has enforced a substantial change in
the policies, priorities and activities of individuals, organisations and
governments. These changes are proving to be a catalyst for technology and
innovation. In this paper, we discuss the pandemic's potential impact on the
adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) in various broad sectors namely
healthcare, smart homes, smart buildings, smart cities, transportation and
industrial IoT. Our perspective and forecast of this impact on IoT adoption is
based on a thorough research literature review, a careful examination of
reports from leading consulting firms and interactions with several industry
experts. For each of these sectors, we also provide the details of notable IoT
initiatives taken in wake of COVID-19. We also highlight the challenges that
need to be addressed and important research directions that will facilitate
accelerated IoT adoption.Comment: This is the version accepted at Sensors 202
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