7,396 research outputs found
A Generic Multi-Layer Architecture Based on ROS-JADE Integration for Autonomous Transport Vehicles
The design and operation of manufacturing systems is evolving to adapt to different challenges. One of the most important is the reconfiguration of the manufacturing process in response to context changes (e.g., faulty equipment or urgent orders, among others). In this sense, the Autonomous Transport Vehicle (ATV) plays a key role in building more flexible and decentralized manufacturing systems. Nowadays, robotic frameworks (RFs) are used for developing robotic systems such as ATVs, but they focus on the control of the robotic system itself. However, social abilities are required for performing intelligent interaction (peer-to-peer negotiation and decision-making) among the different and heterogeneous Cyber Physical Production Systems (such as machines, transport systems and other equipment present in the factory) to achieve manufacturing reconfiguration. This work contributes a generic multi-layer architecture that integrates a RF with a Multi-Agent System (MAS) to provide social abilities to ATVs. This architecture has been implemented on ROS and JADE, the most widespread RF and MAS framework, respectively. We believe this to be the first work that addresses the intelligent interaction of transportation systems for flexible manufacturing environments in a holistic form.This work was financed by MINECO/FEDER, UE (grant number DPI2015-68602-R) and by UPV/EHU (grant number PPG17/56)
Design of Interactive Service Robots applying methods of Systems Engineering and Decision Making
Interaktive Service Roboter werden heute bereits in einigen
Anwendungsszenarien eingesetzt, in denen sie beispielsweise Menschen durch
Gebäude geleiten oder bei häuslichen Aufgaben unterstützen. Dennoch gibt es
bislang kein System, das den erwarteten Marktdurchbruch geschafft hat. Die
hohe Komplexität solcher Systeme und vielfältige Anforderungen durch
Benutzer und Betreiber erschweren die Entwicklung von erfolgreichen Service
Robotern.
In dieser Arbeit wurden zwei interaktive Service Roboter entwickelt, die
das Potential haben, die beschriebenen HinderungsgrĂĽnde fĂĽr einen breiten
Einsatz zu ĂĽberwinden. Das erste Robotersystem wurde als Shopping Roboter
für Baumärkte entwickelt, in denen es Kunden zu gesuchten Produkten führt.
Das zweite System dient als interaktiver Pflegeroboter älteren Menschen in
häuslicher Umgebung bei der Bewältigung täglicher Aufgaben. Diese Arbeit
beschreibt die Realisierung der Embedded Systems beider Robotersysteme und
umfasst insbesondere die Entwicklung der Low-Level System Architekturen,
Energie Management Systeme, Kommunikationssysteme, Sensorsysteme, sowie
ausgewählte Aspekte der mechanischen Umsetzung. Die Entwicklung einer
Vielzahl von Steuerungsmodulen, notwendig fĂĽr die Realisierung interaktiver
Service Roboter, wird beschrieben.
Die vorliegende Arbeit verwendet und erweitert Methoden des Systems
Engineerings, um die hohe Systemkomplexität von interaktiven Service
Robotern sowie die vielfältigen Anforderungen an deren späteren Einsatz
beherrschen zu können. Der Entwicklungsprozess der beiden Roboter basiert
auf dem V-Model, welches einen strukturierten Entwurfsablauf unter
BerĂĽcksichtigung aller Systemanforderungen erlaubt. Es zwingt ferner zur
frühzeitigen Spezifikation von Prüfabläufen, was die Qualität und
Zuverlässigkeit der Entwicklungsergebnisse verbessert. Für die
Unterstützung von Entscheidungen im Entwicklungsprozess schlägt diese
Arbeit eine Kombination aus dem V-Model und dem Analytic Hierarchy Process
(AHP) vor. Der AHP hilft bei der Auswahl verfĂĽgbarer technischer
Alternativen unter Berücksichtigung von Prioritäten im Entwicklungsprozess.
Diese Arbeit spezifiziert sieben Kriterien, die Service Roboter
charakterisieren: Anpassbarkeit, Laufzeit, Benutzbarkeit, Robustheit,
Sicherheit, Features und Kosten. Die Prioritäten dieser Kriterien im
Entwicklungsprozess werden fĂĽr jeden Roboter individuell bestimmt. Der AHP
ermittelt die beste Lösung basierend auf diesen gewichteten Kriterien und
den bewerteten technischen Alternativen. Die Einbindung des AHP in den
V-Model Prozess wurde am Entwurf des Shopping Roboter entwickelt und
geprüft. Die Allgemeingültigkeit dieser Methode wurde während der
Entwicklung des Pflegeroboters verifiziert.Interactive service robots have already been developed and operate as
example installations taking over guidance tasks or serving as home
assistants. However, none of these systems have become an off-the-shelf
product or have achieved the predicted breakthrough so far. The challenges
of the design of such systems are, on the one hand, the combination of
cutting edge technologies to a complex product; on the other hand, the
consideration of requirements important for the later marketing during the
design process.
In the framework of this dissertation, two interactive service robot
systems are developed that have the potential to overcome current market
entry barriers. These robots are designed to operate in two different
environments: one robot guides walked-in users in large home improvement
stores to requested product locations and interacts with the customer to
provide product information; the other robot assists elderly people to stay
longer in their homes and takes over home-care tasks. This work describes
the realization of the embedded systems of both robots. In particular, the
design of low-level system architectures, energy management systems,
communication systems, sensor systems, and selected aspects of mechanical
implementations are carried out in this work. Multiple embedded system
modules are developed for the control of the robots' functionalities; the
development processes as well as the composition and evaluation of these
modules are presented in this work.
To cope with the complexity and the various factors that are important for
the design of the robots, this thesis applies and further develops system
engineering methods. The development process is based on the V-Model system
design method. The V-Model helps to structure the design process under
consideration of all system requirements. It involves evaluation procedures
at all design levels, and thus increases the quality and reliability of the
development outputs. To support design decisions, this thesis proposes to
combine the V-Model with the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. The
AHP helps to evaluate technical alternatives for design decisions according
to overall criteria, a system has to fulfill. This thesis defines seven
criteria that characterize a service robot: Adaptability, Operation Time,
Usability, Robustness, Safeness, Features, and Costs. These criteria are
weighted for each individual robot application. The AHP evaluates technical
design alternatives based on the weighted criteria to reveal the best
technical solution. The integration of the AHP into the V-Model development
is tested and improved during the design process of the shopping robot
system. The generality of this combined systematic design approach is
validated during the design of the home-care robot system
Public entities driven robotic innovation in urban areas
Cities present new challenges and needs to satisfy and improve lifestyle for their citizens under the concept “Smart City”. In order to achieve this goal in a global manner, new technologies are required as the robotic one. But Public entities unknown the possibilities offered by this technology to get solutions to their needs. In this paper the development of the Innovative Public Procurement instruments is explained, specifically the process PDTI (Public end Users Driven Technological Innovation) as a driving force of robotic research and development and offering a list of robotic urban challenges proposed by European cities that have participated in such a process. In the next phases of the procedure, this fact will provide novel robotic solutions addressed to public demand that are an example to be followed by other Smart Cities.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft
Mobile robot transportation in laboratory automation
In this dissertation a new mobile robot transportation system is developed for the modern laboratory automation to connect the distributed automated systems and workbenches. In the system, a series of scientific and technical robot indoor issues are presented and solved, including the multiple robot control strategy, the indoor transportation path planning, the hybrid robot indoor localization, the recharging optimization, the robot-automated door interface, the robot blind arm grasping & placing, etc. The experiments show the proposed system and methods are effective and efficient
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