• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.451-455
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• 2009

This paper provides a comparison of global path planning method in single string by using pulled and pushed SOFM (Self-Organizing Feature Map) which is a method among a number of neural network. The self-organizing feature map uses a randomized small valued initial-weight-vectors, selects the neuron whose weight vector best matches input as the winning neuron, and trains the weight vectors such that neurons within the activity bubble are move toward the input vector. On the other hand, the modified SOFM method in this research uses a predetermined initial weight vectors of the one dimensional string, gives the systematic input vector whose position best matches obstacles, and trains the weight vectors such that neurons within the activity bubble are move toward or reverse the input vector, by rising a pulled- or a pushed-SOFM. According to simulation results one can conclude that the modified neural networks in single string are useful tool for the global path planning problem of a mobile robot. In comparison of the number of iteration for converging to the solution the pushed-SOFM is more useful than the pulled-SOFM in global path planning for mobile robot.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2012

In this paper, we present an obstacle avoidance control algorithm for mobile robots based on SFLC (single-input fuzzy logic controller) with an efficient fuzzy logic look-up table to replace the traditional complicated operation. This method achieves better performance than traditional methods in terms of efficiency. The output of a SFLC leads the robot to the target automatically although many obstacles on the path. Our experiments show that the robot has good performance in the view of path tracking and other efficiency.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.391-395
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• 2010

In our paper, we propose an asymmetric single-tracked wheel system, and describe its structure and the method for maintaining the length of a transformable track system. And the method is reducing the gap of lengths. Therefore, we propose an efficient structure for transforming and explain motions with kinematics. Our transformable shape single-tracked mobile system has an advantage to overcome an obstacle or stairs by the variable arms in the single unity track system. But we will make the variable shape of tracked system get a drive that has a force to stand against a wall. In this case, we can consider this system to a rigid body and have a notice that this single tracked system is able to get vary shape with the variable arm angle. Considering forces balance along x-axis and y-axis, and moments balance around the center of the mass we have. If this rigid body is standing against a wall and doesn't put in motion, the force of flat ground and the rigid body sets an equal by a friction. In the same way, the force of a wall and the rigid sets an equal by a friction.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.317-328
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• 2000

This paper presents an effective approach to collision-free motion planning of a robot in the work-space including time-varying obstacles. The free arc is defined as a set composed of the configuration points of the robot satisfying collision-free motion constraint at each sampling time. We represent this free arc with respect to the new coordinate frame centered at the goal configuration and there for the collision-free path satisfying motion constraint is obtained by connecting the configuration points of the free arc at each sampling mined from the sequence of free arcs the optimality is determined by the performance index. Therefore the complicated collision-free motion planning problem of a robot is transformed to a simplified SUB_Optimal Collision Avoidance Problem(SOCAP). We analyze the completeness of the proposed approach and show that it is partly guaranteed using the backward motion. Computational complexity of our approach is analyzed theoretically and practical computation time is compared with that of the other method. Simulation results for two cally and practical computation time is compared with that of the other method. Simulation results for two SCARA robot manipulators are presented to verify the efficacy of the proposed method.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.1009-1018
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• 2003

In a park or street, we can see many people Jogging or walking with their dogs chasing their masters. In the previous study, an entertainment robot, CARTRI that imitates the dog's behavior was created. The robot's task was chasing a moving goal that was recognized as the master. The physical structure of the CARTRI robot was three-wheel type locomotion system. The sensor system which could detect the position of the master in the outdoor space, was consists of a signal transmitter which was held by the master and five ultrasonic receivers which were mounted on the robot. In the experiment, the robot could chase a human walking in outdoor space like a park. But it could not avoid obstacles and its behavior was only goal-chasing behavior because of the limit of the sensor system. In this study, an improved RF-ultrasonic sensor system which can detect both goal and obstacle is developed in order to enable the CARTRI robot to carry out various behavior. The sensor system has increased angle resolution by using eight ultrasonic receivers instead of five in the previous study. And it can detect obstacle by using reflective type ultrasonic sensors. The sensor system is designed so that detection of goal and obstacle could be conducted in one sampling period. The Performance of the developed sensor system is evaluated through experiments.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.513-520
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• 2011

This paper presents the motion planning of robotic vehicles for the path tracking and the obstacle avoidance. To follow the given path, the vehicle moves through the turning radius obtained through the pure pursuit method, which is a geometric path tracking method. In this paper, we assume that the vehicle is equipped with a 2D laser scanner, allowing it to avoid obstacles within its sensing range. The turning radius for avoiding the obstacle, which is inversely proportional to the virtual force, is then calculated. Therefore, these two kinds of the turning radius are used to generate the steering angle for the front wheel of the vehicle. And the vehicle reduces the velocity when it meets the obstacle or the large steering angle using the potentials of obstacle points and the steering angle. Thus the motion planning of the vehicle is done by planning the steering angle for the front wheels and the velocity. Finally, the performance of the proposed method is tested through simulation.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.909-915
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• 2008

Recently, the interests in the development and application of unmaned robots are increasing in various fields including surveillance and reconnaissance, planet exploration, and disaster relief. Unmaned robots are usually controlled from distance using radio communications but they should be equipped with an autonomous travelling function to cope with unexpected terrains and obstacles. This means that they should be able to evaluate terrain's characteristics quantitatively using mounted sensors so as to traverse harsh natural terrains autonomously. For this purpose, this paper presents a method for extracting terrain information, that is, slope and roughness from elevation maps as a prior step of traversability analysis. Slope is extracted using the curve fitting based on the least squares method and roughness using three metrics and their weighted average. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified on both a fractal map and the world model map of a real terrain.

• Journal of computational fluids engineering
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2013

The feasibility of a unique greenhouse, named as Gradient Biome, is now being examined extensively in the University of Tokyo. It is a large chamber (length:200m, width:50m, height:40m) in which the weather, such as temperature and humidity, of the tropical zone through to that of the frigid zone on the earth is reproduced with continuous gradient. In the Gradient Biome, ecosystems (mainly plants) corresponding to each weather are introduced and the possible responses of this ecosystems to the expected global warming are to be observed. Since one of the expected responses is the shift of the ecosystem(s) toward the region of suitable environment, there should be no artificial obstacles, which can prevent the shift, inside the Biome. This requirement is not so easy to be satisfied since the environment tends to be homogeneous. This paper presents the results of the numerical studies conducted to find the ways of how the temperature and humidity in the Gradient Biome could be reproduced. One of the contributed solvers of OpenFOAM, which is an open source physics simulation code, was modified and used for the numerical simulations.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.824-833
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• 2006

In this paper, the image modelling of road's lane markings is established using view frustum(VF) model. From this model, a measurement system of lane markings and obstacles is proposed. The system also involve the real time processing of the 3D position coordinate and the distance data from the camera to the points on the 3D world coordinate by virtue of the camera calibration. In order to reduce their measurement error, an useful algorithm for which analyze the geometric variations due to traveling vehicle's fluctuation using VF model is proposed. In experiments, without correction, for instance, the $0.4^{\circ}$ of pitching rotation gives the error of $0.4{\sim}0.6m$ at the distance of 10m, but the more far distance cause exponentially the more error. We con finned that this algorithm can be reduced less than 0.1m of error at the same condition.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.168-177
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• 2008

Path finding is a key element in the navigation of a mobile robot. To find a path, robot should know their position exactly, since the position error exposes a robot to many dangerous conditions. It could make a robot move to a wrong direction so that it may have damage by collision by the surrounding obstacles. We propose a method obtaining an accurate robot position. The localization of a mobile robot in its working environment performs by using a vision system and Virtual Reality Modeling Language(VRML). The robot identifies landmarks located in the environment. An image processing and neural network pattern matching techniques have been applied to find location of the robot. After the self-positioning procedure, the 2-D scene of the vision is overlaid onto a VRML scene. This paper describes how to realize the self-positioning, and shows the overlay between the 2-D and VRML scenes. The suggested method defines a robot's path successfully. An experiment using the suggested algorithm apply to a mobile robot has been performed and the result shows a good path tracking.