Visual Perception for a Partner Robot Based on Computational Intelligent

We propose computational intelligence for partner robot perception in which the robot requires the capability of visual perception to interact with human beings. Basically, robots should conduct moving object extraction, clustering, and classification for visual perception used in interactions with human beings. We propose total human visual tracking by long-term memory, k-means, self-organizing map, and a fuzzy controller is used for movement output. Experimental results show that the partner robot can conduct the human visual tracking

Human Head Tracking Based on Particle Swarm Optimization and Genetic Algorithm

This paper compares particle swarm optimization and a genetic algorithm for perception by a partner robot. The robot requires visual perception to interact with human beings. It should basically extract moving objects using visual perception in interaction with human beings. To reduce computational cost and time consumption, we used differential extraction. We propose human head tracking for a partner robot using particle swarm optimization and a genetic algorithm. Experiments involving two maximum iteration numbers show that particle swarm optimization is more effective in solving this problem than genetic algorithm

A Constructive Model of Mother-Infant Interaction towards Infant’s Vowel Articulation

Human infants seem to develop to acquire common phonemes to adults without the capability to articulate or any explicit knowledge. To understand such unrevealed human cognitive development, building a robot which reproduces such a developmental process seems effective. It will also contribute to a design principle for a robot that can communicate with human beings. This paper hypothesizes that the caregiver’s parrotry to the coo of the robot plays an important role in the phoneme acquisition process based on the implication from behavioral studies, and propose a constructive model for it. We validate the proposed model by examining whether a real robot can acquire Japanese vowels through interactions with its caregiver

Cooperative Handling Robot with Human Beings

The focus of this paper is on the analysis of delivery motion of human, development of an image processing method based on the motion analysis and development of the cooperative delivery robot using the image processing method. The proposed image processing method uses two cameras, and it uses a stereo reconstruction technique for measuring position and postures of hands. In addition, this image processing method recognize the number of fingers extending consciously, so the cooperative human beings could choose the kind of tool which he wants by holding out his hand in front of cameras

On the Matter of Robot Minds

The view that phenomenally conscious robots are on the horizon often rests on a certain philosophical view about consciousness, one we call “nomological behaviorism.” The view entails that, as a matter of nomological necessity, if a robot had exactly the same patterns of dispositions to peripheral behavior as a phenomenally conscious being, then the robot would be phenomenally conscious; indeed it would have all and only the states of phenomenal consciousness that the phenomenally conscious being in question has. We experimentally investigate whether the folk think that certain (hypothetical) robots made of silicon and steel would have the same conscious states as certain familiar biological beings with the same patterns of dispositions to peripheral behavior as the robots. Our findings provide evidence that the folk largely reject the view that silicon-based robots would have the sensations that they, the folk, attribute to the biological beings in question

New Method for Localization and Human Being Detection using UWB Technology: Helpful Solution for Rescue Robots

International audienceTwo challenges for rescue robots are to detect human beings and to have an accurate positioning system. In indoor positioning, GPS receivers cannot be used due to the reflections or attenuation caused by obstacles. To detect human beings, sensors such as thermal camera, ultrasonic and microphone can be embedded on the rescue robot. The drawback of these sensors is the detection range. These sensors have to be in close proximity to the victim in order to detect it. UWB technology is then very helpful to ensure precise localization of the rescue robot inside the disaster site and detect human beings. We propose a new method to both detect human beings and locate the rescue robot at the same time. To achieve these goals we optimize the design of UWB pulses based on B-splines. The spectral effectiveness is optimized so the symbols are easier to detect and the mitigation with noise is reduced. Our positioning system performs to locate the rescue robot with an accuracy about 2 centimeters. During some tests we discover that UWB signal characteristics abruptly change after passing through a human body. Our system uses this particular signature to detect human body

A robot swarm assisting a human fire-fighter

Emergencies in industrial warehouses are a major concern for fire-fighters. The large dimensions, together with the development of dense smoke that drastically reduces visibility, represent major challenges. The GUARDIANS robot swarm is designed to assist fire-fighters in searching a large warehouse. In this paper we discuss the technology developed for a swarm of robots assisting fire-fighters. We explain the swarming algorithms that provide the functionality by which the robots react to and follow humans while no communication is required. Next we discuss the wireless communication system, which is a so-called mobile ad-hoc network. The communication network provides also the means to locate the robots and humans. Thus, the robot swarm is able to provide guidance information to the humans. Together with the fire-fighters we explored how the robot swarm should feed information back to the human fire-fighter. We have designed and experimented with interfaces for presenting swarm-based information to human beings