Perception of small-obstacle using ultrasonic sensors for a mobile robot

이동로봇을 위한 초음파센서를 이용한 소형장해물 감지

This paper describes a perception of small-obstacle using ultrasonic sensors in a mobile robot. The research on the avoidance of the large-obstacles such as a wall, a large box, etc. using ultrasonic sensors has been generally progressed up to now. But the mobile robot could meet a small-obstacle such as a small plastic bottle of about 1 l in quantity, a small box of 7${\times}$7${\times}$7 cm3 in volume, and so on in its designated path, and could be disturbed by them in the locomotion of the mobile robot. So, it is necessary to research on the avoidance of a small-obstacle. In this paper, the small-obstacle perceiving system was designed and fabricated by arranging four ultrasonic sensors on the plastic plate to avoid a small-obstacle. The small-obstacle perceiving system was installed on the above part of the mobile robot with the slope of 40.7$^{\circ}$ to a horizontal line. The static characteristic test and the dynamic characteristic test were performed to know the information of the used ultrasonic sensors. As a result, the mobile robot with the small-obstacle perceiving system could avoid a small-obstacle, and could move in indoor environment safely.