Project
# | Title | Team Members | TA | Documents | Sponsor |
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15 | Survivor Identification and Retrieval Robot |
Karun Koppula Zachary Wasserman Zhijie Jin |
Xinrui Zhu | appendix0.pdf design_document0.pdf design_document0.pdf final_paper0.pdf other0.zip other0.zip presentation0.pdf proposal0.pdf video0.mov |
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The maze solving robot would attempt to solve mazes in a static environment and implement a learning algorithm to improve performance. It would have to detect obstacles and navigate around them to search for and identify the goal position. It could be extended to retrieving an object somewhere in the environment and return it to the start position. It is a proof of concept for search and rescue operations for autonomous learning systems. We would like to have it be able to quickly learn in a variety of different layouts. Due to the computational complexity of the image processing algorithms, we would use a Raspberry Pi for algorithmic implementation, but create a circuit/PCB for robotic control. Object Recognition For the item retrieval and maze solving robots we would need to implement object recognition that is capable of recognizing a specific set of objects in non-static lighting environments We need to be able to identify the walls/objects of the environment that the robot is operating. We will use laser/sonar sensors in combination with visual data. It needs to be able to recognize obstacles and understand the possibilities of navigating around it. Boundary Space Recognition/SLAM We need to constrain these robots to work in a closed environment and therefore need a method to understanding the position of the robot with respect to the boundary We could also use some image processing feature to identify the boundary with markers or physical barriers. Manipulation For the item retrieving and maze solving robots we would need to be able to manipulate the objects in question We decided that a high degree of freedom robotic manipulator was out of the question and would prefer to use a simple claw/clamp, or suction/magnetic pull to interact with objects. We feel that to be able to pick up arbitrarily sized objects would be beyond the appropriate complexity of the project, so we would constrain the types of objects that need to be picked up with to work easily with the manipulative system Control/Path Planning We would likely build a circuit to automate the control that drives the motors or even moves the robot from point A to point B We will need some sort of path planning algorithm to explore the environment We would speak to the appropriate resources about how to implement these algorithms Prof Girish Choudary Prof Steve LaValle Reinforcement Learning In order to improve the performance of the robot with successive iterations navigating the maze, we will need to implement a reinforcement algorithm. Relevant Resources Prof Girish Choudary Hardware - for much of the hardware component, Yuchen suggested that we speak to the machine shop about fabrication at least in terms of robotic design. Motors/Wheels Chassis Motor Control Boards - we would be designing this circuitry to control the motors by linking the battery and the control inputs. As an extension of complexity in this area we would design a circuit that given an input and current state of the robot drives the robot to that location. This would allow us to include a microprocessor on the designed board and increase the functional capabilities. (DESIGN) Raspberry Pi - for high level control of robot and algorithms (USE) Sensors - for this we need camera(s) whether we do monocular or binocular vision would be an issue to discuss. We could also use laser rangefinders/lidar package to to SLAM for the obstacle detecting and avoiding robots. We could use sonar as well for distance sensing. We would need an IR camera or sensor for the human identifying robot. We could use pressure sensors or a scale to detect that the robot has correctly picked up or put down the objects in question. We would also need a sensor to check that the robot is stuck and burning out its motors. Environmental Constraints Since robust image-processing identification of objects in the environment is not the focus of this project, would would likely constrain lighting conditions to standard well lit levels. We are also not designing a robot that can climb over obstacles, since complex dynamic is not the focus of the project. We would constrain the environment to a flat/drivable surface. Obstacles would be moved around. |