• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.470-477
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• 2009

Modular reconfigurable robots with physical docking capability easily adapt to a new environment and many studies are necessary for the modular robots. In this paper, we propose a vision-based fuzzy autonomous docking controller for the modular docking robots. A modular docking robot platform which performs real-time image processing is designed and color-based object recognition method is implemented on the embedded system. The docking robot can navigate to a subgoal near a target robot while avoiding obstacles. Both a fuzzy obstacle avoidance controller and a fuzzy navigation controller for subgoal tracking are designed. We propose an autonomous docking controller using the fuzzy obstacle avoidance and navigation controllers, absolute distance information and direction informations of robots from PSD sensors and a compass sensor. We verify the proposed docking control method by docking experiments of the developed modular robots in the various environments with different distances and directions between robots.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.930-935
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• 2015

An unmanned forklift requires precise positioning and pallet detection. Therefore, conventional unmanned forklifts use high-cost sensors to find the exact position of the pallet. In this study, a docking algorithm with two cameras is proposed. The proposed method uses vision data to extract the angle difference between the pallet and the forklift. Then the control law is derived from the extracted angle for successful docking. The extracted angle is compared with the actual angle in the real environment. The control law is tested with the Lyapunov stability test and Routh-Hurwitz stability criterion. Through various experiments, the proposed docking algorithm showed the success rate high enough for real-life applications.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.187-197
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• 2020

In order to avoid the high cost and high risk of demonstration mission of rendezvous-docking technology, missions using nanosatellites have recently been increasing. However, there are few successful mission cases due to many limitations of nanosatellites like small size, power limitation, and limited performances of sensor, thruster, and controller. To improve the probability of rendezvous-docking mission success using nanosatellite, a rendezvous-docking phase analysis tool for nanosatellites is developed. The tool serves to analyze the relative position and attitude control of the chaser satellite at the docking phase. In this tool, the Model Predictive Controller (MPC) is implemented as a controller, and Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) is adopted as a filter for noise filtering. To verify the performance and effectiveness of the developed tool for nanosatellites, simulation study was conducted. Consequently, we confirmed that this tool can be used for the analysis of relative position and attitude control for nanosatellites in the rendezvous-docking phase.

• International Journal of Control, Automation, and Systems
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.731-739
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• 2008

The docking and recharging system for a mobile robot must guarantee the ability to perform its tasks continuously without human intervention. This paper proposes two docking mechanisms with localization error-compensation capability for an auto recharging system. The mechanisms use friction forces or magnetic forces between the docking parts of the robot and those of the docking station. It is a structure to improve the allowance ranges of lateral and directional docking offsets, in which the robot is able to dock into the docking station. In this paper, auto-recharging system and the features of the proposed mechanisms are verified with experimental results using simple homing method.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.169-175
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• 2016

There are many researches to develop robots that improve its mobility and task planning to adapt in various uneven environments. In this paper, we propose the design method and task planning of quadruped robot which can have top-bottom docking structure. The proposed quadruped robot is designed to adjust leg length using linear actuators and perform top-bottom docking and undocking using octagonal cone shaped docking module. Also, to stable walking and information gathering in the various environments, a geomagnetic sensor, PSD sensor, LRF sensor and camera. We propose an obstacle avoidance method and the topbottom docking algorithm of the two quadruped robots using linear actuator. The robot can overcome obstacles using adjusting leg length and activate the top-bottom docking function. The top-bottom docking robots of two quadruped robot can walk 4 legged walking and 6 legged walking, and use 4 arms or 2 arms the upper. We verified that the docking robots can carry objects using 4 leg of the upper robot.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.236-241
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• 2015

This paper presents a study on transformable multiple quadruped robots by docking between robots and waist joints. This robot is able to go on a variety of angles because of mecanum wheels. It is also a hybrid design which allows robot use legs to overcome obstacles on complex terrains and wheels to move on flat ground. The robot is applied kinematics of mecanum wheels and walking, and its walking is based on specific patterns. Docking module is located in front and backside of robot, docking algorithm is suggested and fulfilled for docking between 2 robots. A waist joint is at the center of robot body for transformation and after docking and transformation, robot can activate new functions that carry something.

• Journal of Advanced Navigation Technology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 2021

This paper proposes an assessment method using probability-based index for safe and successful underwater docking of autonomous underwater vehicles(AUVs) to the docking stations(DSs). The proposed method assesses the probability of docking according to the degree to which the state of the AUV is consistent with the state criteria for docking. The assessment is performed within a specific area considering the kinematic constraints and docking plans of the AUV. The assessment process is defining probability density function, calculating probabilities for reaching the docking station according to the difference to position and heading criteria, and computing the probability-based index in real-time. We verify the validity of the proposed method through analyzing the data acquired on operation test.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.830-836
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• 2012

According to increasing the importance of underwater environments, the needs of UUV are growing. This paper represents the mechanism and algorithm of UUV docking system with 21-inch torpedo tubes for military submarines as a docking station. To improve the reliability of the docking, torpedo tubes launch a wired ROV and next the ROV combined with UUV is retrieved. For estimating the relative position between the ROV and UUV, in this paper, combining RF sensors and vision system is proposed. The RSSI method of RF sensors is used to estimate the distance and the optical image is combined for the directional information.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.289-296
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• 2007

The docking and recharging system for a mobile robot must guarantee the ability of the mobile robot to perform its tasks continuously without human intervention. In this paper, two docking mechanisms are proposed with localization error-compensation capability for the auto recharging system. Friction forces or magnetic forces are used between the docking parts of the docking module and those of the docking station. In addition, an auto recharging system is developed to control the power. Since the system is modularized, it can easily be adapted to other robots.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.309-314
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• 1999

The major movement block of the containers is range between apron and designation points on yard in container terminal. The yard tractor operated by human takes charge of it's movement in conventional container terminal. In unmanned container terminal, UCT(unmanned container transporter) has charge of the yard tractor's role and the navigation path is ordered from upper level control system. The unmanned container terminal facilities must have docking system that guided landing line to have high speed travelling and precision positioning in unmanned container terminal. The general method for docking uses the vision system with CCD camera, infra red, and laser. This paper describes the investigation for the developed docking method in view point of merit and demerit and introduces 속 result of developing the docking system with LSB(laser slit beam).