573 research outputs found
Computational intelligence approaches to robotics, automation, and control [Volume guest editors]
No abstract available
The Role of Vision Algorithms for Micro Aerial Vehicles
This work investigates the research topics related to visual aerial navigation in loosely structured and cluttered environments. During the inspection of the desired infrastructure the robot is required to fly in an environment which is uncertain and only partially structured because, usually, no reliable layouts and drawings of the surroundings are available.
To support these features, advanced cognitive capabilities are required, and
in particular the role played by vision is of paramount importance. The use
of vision and other onboard sensors such as IMU and GPS play a fundamental to
provide high level degree of autonomy to flying vehicles. In detail, the outline of
this thesis is organized as follows
• Chapter 1 is a general introduction of the aerial robotic field, the quadrotor
platform, the use of onboard sensors like cameras and IMU for autonomous
navigation. A discussion about camera modeling, current state of art on vision
based control, navigation, environment reconstruction and sensor fusion
is presented.
• Chapter 2 presents vision based control algorithms useful for reactive control
like collision avoidance, perching and grasping tasks. Two main contributions
are presented based on relative depth map and image based visual
servoing respectively.
• Chapter 3 discusses the use of vision algorithms for localization and mapping.
Compared to the previous chapter, the vision algorithm is more complex
involving vehicle’s poses estimation and environment reconstruction. An algorithm
based on RGB-D sensors for localization, extendable to localization
of multiple vehicles, is presented. Moreover, an environment representation
for planning purposes, applied to industrial environments, is introduced.
• Chapter 4 introduces the possibility to combine vision measurements and
IMU to estimate the motion of the vehicle. A new contribution based on Pareto Optimization, which overcome classical Kalman filtering techniques,
is presented.
• Chapter 5 contains conclusion, remarks and proposals for possible developments
AN INTELLIGENT NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR AN AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLE
The work in this thesis concerns with the development of a novel multisensor data fusion
(MSDF) technique, which combines synergistically Kalman filtering, fuzzy logic
and genetic algorithm approaches, aimed to enhance the accuracy of an autonomous
underwater vehicle (AUV) navigation system, formed by an integration of global positioning
system and inertial navigation system (GPS/INS).
The Kalman filter has been a popular method for integrating the data produced
by the GPS and INS to provide optimal estimates of AUVs position and attitude. In
this thesis, a sequential use of a linear Kalman filter and extended Kalman filter is
proposed. The former is used to fuse the data from a variety of INS sensors whose
output is used as an input to the later where integration with GPS data takes place.
The use of an adaptation scheme based on fuzzy logic approaches to cope with the
divergence problem caused by the insufficiently known a priori filter statistics is also
explored. The choice of fuzzy membership functions for the adaptation scheme is first
carried out using a heuristic approach. Single objective and multiobjective genetic
algorithm techniques are then used to optimize the parameters of the membership
functions with respect to a certain performance criteria in order to improve the overall
accuracy of the integrated navigation system. Results are presented that show
that the proposed algorithms can provide a significant improvement in the overall
navigation performance of an autonomous underwater vehicle navigation.
The proposed technique is known to be the first method used in relation to AUV
navigation technology and is thus considered as a major contribution thereof.J&S Marine Ltd.,
Qinetiq, Subsea 7 and South West Water PL
A 64mW DNN-based Visual Navigation Engine for Autonomous Nano-Drones
Fully-autonomous miniaturized robots (e.g., drones), with artificial
intelligence (AI) based visual navigation capabilities are extremely
challenging drivers of Internet-of-Things edge intelligence capabilities.
Visual navigation based on AI approaches, such as deep neural networks (DNNs)
are becoming pervasive for standard-size drones, but are considered out of
reach for nanodrones with size of a few cm. In this work, we
present the first (to the best of our knowledge) demonstration of a navigation
engine for autonomous nano-drones capable of closed-loop end-to-end DNN-based
visual navigation. To achieve this goal we developed a complete methodology for
parallel execution of complex DNNs directly on-bard of resource-constrained
milliwatt-scale nodes. Our system is based on GAP8, a novel parallel
ultra-low-power computing platform, and a 27 g commercial, open-source
CrazyFlie 2.0 nano-quadrotor. As part of our general methodology we discuss the
software mapping techniques that enable the state-of-the-art deep convolutional
neural network presented in [1] to be fully executed on-board within a strict 6
fps real-time constraint with no compromise in terms of flight results, while
all processing is done with only 64 mW on average. Our navigation engine is
flexible and can be used to span a wide performance range: at its peak
performance corner it achieves 18 fps while still consuming on average just
3.5% of the power envelope of the deployed nano-aircraft.Comment: 15 pages, 13 figures, 5 tables, 2 listings, accepted for publication
in the IEEE Internet of Things Journal (IEEE IOTJ
Computational intelligence approaches to robotics, automation, and control [Volume guest editors]
No abstract available
Actuators for Intelligent Electric Vehicles
This book details the advanced actuators for IEVs and the control algorithm design. In the actuator design, the configuration four-wheel independent drive/steering electric vehicles is reviewed. An in-wheel two-speed AMT with selectable one-way clutch is designed for IEV. Considering uncertainties, the optimization design for the planetary gear train of IEV is conducted. An electric power steering system is designed for IEV. In addition, advanced control algorithms are proposed in favour of active safety improvement. A supervision mechanism is applied to the segment drift control of autonomous driving. Double super-resolution network is used to design the intelligent driving algorithm. Torque distribution control technology and four-wheel steering technology are utilized for path tracking and adaptive cruise control. To advance the control accuracy, advanced estimation algorithms are studied in this book. The tyre-road peak friction coefficient under full slip rate range is identified based on the normalized tyre model. The pressure of the electro-hydraulic brake system is estimated based on signal fusion. Besides, a multi-semantic driver behaviour recognition model of autonomous vehicles is designed using confidence fusion mechanism. Moreover, a mono-vision based lateral localization system of low-cost autonomous vehicles is proposed with deep learning curb detection. To sum up, the discussed advanced actuators, control and estimation algorithms are beneficial to the active safety improvement of IEVs
Robot Manipulators
Robot manipulators are developing more in the direction of industrial robots than of human workers. Recently, the applications of robot manipulators are spreading their focus, for example Da Vinci as a medical robot, ASIMO as a humanoid robot and so on. There are many research topics within the field of robot manipulators, e.g. motion planning, cooperation with a human, and fusion with external sensors like vision, haptic and force, etc. Moreover, these include both technical problems in the industry and theoretical problems in the academic fields. This book is a collection of papers presenting the latest research issues from around the world
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