93,963 research outputs found
Automatic rendezvous system testing at the Flight Robotics Laboratory
The Flight Robotics Laboratory of MSFC provides sophisticated real time simulation capability in the study of human/system interactions of remote systems. This paper will describe the Flight Robotics Facility of NASA/MSFC, the hardware-in-the-loop simulation configuration, and test results
A Playful Experiential Learning System With Educational Robotics
This article reports on two studies that aimed to evaluate the effective impact of
educational robotics in learning concepts related to Physics and Geography. The
reported studies involved two courses from an upper secondary school and two courses
froma lower secondary school. Upper secondary school classes studied topics ofmotion
physics, and lower secondary school classes explored issues related to geography.
In each grade, there was an “experimental group” that carried out their study using
robotics and cooperative learning and a “control group” that studied the same concepts
without robots. Students in both classes were subjected to tests before and after the
robotics laboratory, to check their knowledge in the topics covered. Our initial hypothesis
was that classes involving educational robotics and cooperative learning are more
effective in improving learning and stimulating the interest and motivation of students.
As expected, the results showed that students in the experimental groups had a far
better understanding of concepts and higher participation to the activities than students
in the control groups
The role of the automation development group in analytical research and development at Dupont Merck
Laboratory robotics has been firmly established in many non-QC
laboratories as a valuable tool for automating pharmaceutical
dosage form analysis. Often a single project or product line is used
to justify an initial robot purchase thus introducing robotics to the
laboratory for the first time. However, to gain widespread acceptance
within the laboratory and to justify further investment in robotics,
existing robots must be used to develop analyses for existing manual
methods as well as new projects beyond the scope off the original
purchase justification. The Automation Development Group in
Analytical Research and Development is a team of analysts
primarily devoted to developing new methods and adapting existing
methods for the robot. This team approach developed the expertise
and synergy necessary to significantly expand the contribution of
robotics to automation in the authors' laboratory
Application of robotics In the clinical laboratory
The basic types of robot are explained, and the performances and
costs of some commercial examples are given. The potential
advantages and problems of introducing robots into clinical
laboratories are identified and the specifcation of a suitable robot
is developed. None of the commercially available robots meets all
aspects of the specificalion, and currently the purchase of a robot is
considered premature for most clinical laboratories
Microgravity mechanisms and robotics program
The primary goal of this program is to produce the motion control tools necessary to enhance and enable a particular NASA mission - space laboratory-based microgravity experiments. To that end, a spectrum of technology is being developed in the disciplines of precision mechanisms and robotics
Comment: Applications of robotics in the clinical laboratory
The implementation of a robotic workstation in the clinical
laboratory involves considerations and compromises common to any instrument design and development activity. The trade-off between speed and flexibility not only affects the way the instrument interacts with human operators and other devices (the ‘real-world interface’), but also places limitations on the adaptation of chemistries to the given instrument. Mechanical optimization for speed and reproducibility places restrictions on the imprecision of consumables. Attempts to adapt a robot to a constrained system may entail compromises that either degrades the theoretically-attainable quality of results, or requires human interaction to compensate for physical or mechanical limitations. The general considerations of function and workflow, programming and support, and reliability place practical limits on the implementation of robotic workstations in the clinical laboratory
NASA Center for Intelligent Robotic Systems for Space Exploration
NASA's program for the civilian exploration of space is a challenge to scientists and engineers to help maintain and further develop the United States' position of leadership in a focused sphere of space activity. Such an ambitious plan requires the contribution and further development of many scientific and technological fields. One research area essential for the success of these space exploration programs is Intelligent Robotic Systems. These systems represent a class of autonomous and semi-autonomous machines that can perform human-like functions with or without human interaction. They are fundamental for activities too hazardous for humans or too distant or complex for remote telemanipulation. To meet this challenge, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) has established an Engineering Research Center for Intelligent Robotic Systems for Space Exploration (CIRSSE). The Center was created with a five year $5.5 million grant from NASA submitted by a team of the Robotics and Automation Laboratories. The Robotics and Automation Laboratories of RPI are the result of the merger of the Robotics and Automation Laboratory of the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering (ECSE) and the Research Laboratory for Kinematics and Robotic Mechanisms of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, and Mechanics (ME,AE,&M), in 1987. This report is an examination of the activities that are centered at CIRSSE
Software simulation of time delay in teleoperation
Research done in the Space Robotics Laboratory at the University of Atlanta at Huntsville on the effects of time delay on teleoperation is discussed. The laboratory is configured around a Puma 562 robot with 6 degrees of freedom. A custom designed joystick controller with two joysticks, each with three degrees of freedom, is used to control the robot. These joysticks are connected to the robot controller through an analog to digital interface. Joystick calibration, a computer program called Joystick, and the VAL 2 robot control language are discussed
Development of a Low-Cost Robotics Platform that Facilitates the Enhancement of Microcomputer Structures and Interfacing Learning Objectives
Robotics has become a common educational tool to teach basic concepts in mathematics, science, engineering, technology, world affairs, and much more. Programs such as For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) robotics are demonstrating that the recipe for student inspiration and learning involves robotics, problem solving, teamwork, and friendly competition. The successes of FIRST robotics programs and results from universities that have integrated robotics platforms into their curriculum provide evidence that infusing robotics platforms and curriculum into engineering departments better their capabilities and increase attractiveness to current and future students. This effort details the design and development of a low-cost robotics platform and seamless set of supporting curriculum. The platform and seamless curriculum set is implemented in the West Virginia University\u27s Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering (LCSEE) microcomputer structures and interfacing laboratory, an undergraduate computer engineering course. The results provide detailed information on the robotics platform as well as detailed information on the seamless set of modules that make up the curriculum. The results demonstrate that a subset of students become significantly more motivated and are more willing to work additional hours to improve upon their design as compared to traditional laboratory sessions. These results are significant and demonstrate that robotics and seamless curriculum sets provide a solid platform to introduce computer engineering concepts that inspire and motivate students
ROBOSIM: An intelligent simulator for robotic systems
The purpose of this paper is to present an update of an intelligent robotics simulator package, ROBOSIM, first introduced at Technology 2000 in 1990. ROBOSIM is used for three-dimensional geometrical modeling of robot manipulators and various objects in their workspace, and for the simulation of action sequences performed by the manipulators. Geometric modeling of robot manipulators has an expanding area of interest because it can aid the design and usage of robots in a number of ways, including: design and testing of manipulators, robot action planning, on-line control of robot manipulators, telerobotic user interface, and training and education. NASA developed ROBOSIM between 1985-88 to facilitate the development of robotics, and used the package to develop robotics for welding, coating, and space operations. ROBOSIM has been further developed for academic use by its co-developer Vanderbilt University, and has been in both classroom and laboratory environments for teaching complex robotic concepts. Plans are being formulated to make ROBOSIM available to all U.S. engineering/engineering technology schools (over three hundred total with an estimated 10,000+ users per year)
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