Network-Guided Robot

Abstract

This paper describes a technique for a robot to be guided to a position, in indoor environments with the use of wireless network nodes. The system comprises of number of wireless static nodes with capability to change the guiding parameters for robot using onboard switches. The static nodes are placed at strategic locations in environment. The receiver node would be carried by robot. The communication between robot and wireless nodes will be carried out using ZigBee compliant RF modem. ZigBee which is 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 compliant transceiver-based wireless protocol is used to communicate between robot and wireless nodes through a master controller. The wireless nodes will send data packet to robot containing information about the movement of robot in desired direction for safe navigation in a given environment. This capability renders network node as intelligent. This technique is of great importance to logistic warehouse where robots are involved and robots move on specified path given by the central network controller. With this technique, wireless network can figure out an alternate path for another robot if one of them fails in order to prevent system coming to a standstill