Intelligent Data Carrier Research Articles

Maximization of Productivity by Distributed Robot System for Manufacturing Operation

These days, research of multiple robots, which has distributed function and maximize their total ability have been frequently observed in the field of rescue robots or soccer robots tournament called ROBOCUP. This shows the rapidly growing need of more sophisticated multiple robots which are more dependable compared to function-integrated single robots. Accordingly, several studies have been made regarding sharing and distribution the knowledge which are obtained from the sensory operation. This knowledge must be utilized not only for geographical navigation but for highly complicated exercises. Asama et al. proposed the Intelligent Data Carrier (IDC) with the aim of sharing knowledge among the robots. This utilization of memory media has disadvantage of an increase in cost and redundant need of supervising system for the memory modules. Therefore, in this paper we propose the knowledge sharing system and autonomous line control system using the broad band wireless communication devices, such as wireless LAN and BluetoothR. If the robot modules are equipped with the independent communication systems, efficient and simplified unitary system shall become the practical use. This enables the robot to manage the knowledge interactively.

Information Assistance for Search-and-Rescue by Intelligent Data Carriers and a Data Retrieval Blimp

We propose a search-and-rescue information assistance system that consists of an intelligent data carrier for rescue (IDC-R) and a data retrieval blimp (DRB). The IDC provides the environment with information storage, sensing, and processing. We incorporated auditory functionality into IDCs and used them to support search-and-rescue. IDC-Rs in buildings repeatedly call to victims and record their answers independently. A DRB flies over a disaster area and communicates with IDC-Rs to activate them and to obtain data. We have implemented actual devices and describe a feasible motion planning algorithm for a DRB.

Integrated multi-environmental sensing-system for the intelligent data carrier

Abstract This paper deals with a monolithically integrated multi-sensor system for the intelligent data carrier (IDC) system. The system includes a three-dimensional accelerometer, pressure sensor, temperature sensor and humidity sensor as well as the peripheral circuitry for each sensor on one chip. The peripheral circuitry was designed to combine them to one-chip microprocessor with A/D converter. The monolithic multi-sensor chip was realized using an SOI wafer, where the Deep-RIE bulk-micromachining process and bipolar IC process were used for sensor device fabrication and circuit fabrication, respectively. The acquired data are logged on a nonvolatile memory and transmitted via TCP/IP protocol on the ethernet by the “embedded Linux board”. We also show the remote monitoring system for multi-environmental sensor by using the graphical software and general purpose web browsing software.

Knowledge acquisition and sharing among autonomous robots by intelligent data carriers

We propose a cooperative autonomous robotic system that enables autonomous knowledge acquisition and sharing for the effective execution of tasks. We established a device to store knowledge on a work area as well as an algorithm to acquire and share knowledge. We have developed new hardware of the device referred to as an 'intelligent data carrier (IDC)'. The IDC is an immobile but portable device for knowledge storage and management. The IDC realizes local communication by radio waves. We propose an algorithm to improve the efficiency of iterative transportation tasks performed by autonomous mobile robots. An autonomous mobile robot gives the name of its most recently visited destination to an IDC, which is located on a junction in a work area. An IDC summarizes the knowledge collected from robots and reports a direction that it determines as the optimum route for a robot to take. By the proposed algorithm and system, mobile robots construct a knowledge base for navigation and improve the efficiency of a task automatically without generating any global map. We verified the effect of the proposed algorithm by performing simulations and experiments.

2P1-G02 インテリジェントデータキャリアによる搬送ロボットの誘導

2P1-G02 インテリジェントデータキャリアによる搬送ロボットの誘導

An intelligent data carrier system as an information assistant in rescue

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image sizeKeywords: INFORMATION ASSISTANTINTELLIGENT ENVIRONMENT

Development of Intelligent Data Carrier Systems for Cooperative Organization of Multiple Robots and their Operating Environment

A device for ubiquitous computing called Intelligent Data Carrier (IDC) was developed, which enables active informational interaction between robots and its operating environment and provides the environment with intelligent information processing functionality. The concept of IDC and the devices developed so far are introduced, and its applications to cooperative organization of multiple mobile robots and their operating environment are presented, where adaptive behaviors are expected to emerge.

Autonomous Knowledge Acquisition and Revision by Intelligent Data Carriers in a Dynamic Environment

In this paper, we built a device and algorithm for implementation in autonomous robots that can enhance efficiency through autonomous knowledge acquisition and sharing. We also propose an algorithm to adapt our robotic system to dynamic environments. In this robotic system, the ""Intelligent Data Carrier"" provides navigational knowledge for autonomous mobile robots. An IDC summarizes fragmyents of knowledge from individual robots and tells the best direction toward a destination at which a robot wants to arrive. We make models of dynamic environments, and investigate the behaviors of autonomous robots that navigate using an intelligent data carrier system. We also create an algorithm that estimates the validity of knowledge in an IDC and allows the IDC to renew the knowledge autonomously. We verify effectiveness of the proposed algorithm by means of simulations.

2P1-J10 IDC(インテリジェント・データ・キャリア)による次世代搬送システムの開発(14. 大型メカトロニクス)

2P1-J10 IDC(インテリジェント・データ・キャリア)による次世代搬送システムの開発(14. 大型メカトロニクス)

Distributed Task Processing By a Multiple Autonomous Robot System Using an Intelligent Data Carrier System

Abstract This paper presents a new device called intelligent data carrier (IDC) for local information management. This device is useful for multiple autonomous robot systems which operate in a dynamically changing environment. In this paper, an IDC system which consists of IDCs attached to objects or environment and reader/writers mounted on autonomous mobile robots is introduced, and various IDC applications are proposed. As an example of the applications, a method for distributed task processing using the IDC system is mentioned, and the applicability of the system is verified through numerical simulations and experiments using actual robots.

Effective Iterative Transportation by Autonomous Mobile Robots which Obtain Information for Navigation by Intelligent Data Carriers.

In this paper, we propose a device for cooperation of multiple autonomous mobile robots. A device which enables local comnaunication, called Intelligent Data Carrier (IDC) is proposed. In this paper, we propose an algorithm to improve efficiency of iterative transportation tasks by autonomous mobile robots. An autonomous mobile robot gives name of its latest visited destination to an IDC which is located on a junction in a work area. An IDC summarize the information from robots and tell a direction which it expects best way to a destination which a robot want to go. By the proposed algorithm and system, mobile robots construct information of navigation and improve the efficiency of a task automatically. We verified the effectof the proposed algorithm by simulations and experiments.

Co-evolution of a multiple autonomous robot system and its working environment via intelligent local information storage

This paper proposes a new strategy of evolution and adaptation of a population of multiple autonomous mobile robots to make multi-robot systems more flexible and robust against unpredictable environmental conditions and human operator's capricious commands, and to overcome the limitation of biologically inspired techniques which need a certain degree of redundancy and diversity. The important idea of the strategy is to utilize the advantageous parallelism of the multi-robot system and immobile but portable devices (data carriers) for information storage and management. A device named IDC (Intelligent Data Carrier) is developed with a unique mushroom-like structure to be easily handled by a forklift mechanism which can be mounted on actual mobile robots. The handling method of the IDC unit, which should be essential to realization of the proposed strategy, is examined through the experiment using an omni-directional mobile robot, and the robot succeeded in placing the unit at an appropriate location. With the demonstrated handling technique, the robots can adapt and evolve as a population by accessing locally available information which is stored and processed in the IDC unit.

Elemental Technologies for Collective Robots

The research on distributed autonomous robotic systems which has been carried out in RIKEN results in a conclusion that development of new elemental technologies is essential for realization of an collective robot system. In this paper, the required elemental technologies in mechanisms, sensory systems, and communication systems of collective robots are mentioned, and some elemental technologies developed so far are introduced. Interaction between collective robots and their environment is discussed, and an intelligent data carrier system is introduced as an example of a new device for the interaction. Human interface for operating collective robots is also discussed, which enables cooperation between collective robots and a human operator.

An Intelligent Data Carrier System for Local Communication Between Cooperative Multiple Mobile Robots and Environment

This paper presents an intelligent communication device called IDC (Intelligent Data Carrier) designed for local communication within a distributed system with multiple mobile robots. The IDC system is designed as a complement to an existing radio communication system. and is intended to decrease the need for global coordinative communication by providing distributed local inter-robot communication and a local information management function. The IDC system utilizes RF-ID (Radio Frequency Identification) electromagnetic wave transmission for communication, and the units are equipped with a data processing unit and a power unit to allow intelligent autonomous operation. As a result of the autonomy and the portability of the units, the IDC system does not only reduce the load on the global communication system, but it also provides a distribution of intelligent communication devices that enable a variety of interesting robot-environment communication capabilities. In a first example of utilization, the IDC system is used to replace the centralized control in an object transportation system consisting of multiple mobile robots.