CajunBot: Past and Future

Arun Lakhotia

The Center for Advanced Computer Studies

Agenda

Review Past Plans for Future

Robot Races Leverage LITE

Race Track

Route Definition: Input

Terrain

2005 Evaluation Process

Application: 195 Site visits: 116 Semi-finals: 43 Finals: 43 Finishers: 5

3-D view inside CajunBot

CajunBot Innovation:Taking advantage of bumps

Visibility distance increased with bumps

Z (Height)-acceleration m/s2

Max

ob

stac

le d

etec

tion

dist

anc

e

CajunBot Innovation:Simulator

Complete virtual world for testing software Significant challenge

Running ‘real-time’ systems in virtual environment Solution:

A virtual-clock Encapsulate clock into an object

Team Composition

Graduates of Rayne High Berwick High Baton Rouge High Catholic High, New Iberia Slidell High Kenner High Lafayette High Carencro Comeaux India, Nigeria, China, Tunisia

Future – Robot Races

New Vehicle Ragin’Bot

Jeep Wrangler Lafayette Motors

DARPA Grand Challenge 2007

Autonomous Vehicles in traffic Model vehicles in cities

New issues Detect other vehicles on road Follow road rules (right of ways)

Challenge date To be announced Most likely in August 2007

Pikes Peak Uphill Robot Race

Colorado Springs Course for autoracing Second only to Indy-

500, but uphill Stats

Length: 12.42 miles Turns: 156 Start elevation: 9,390ft End elevation: 14,110ft Grade: +/- 10%

Buckeye Invitational

Led by Ohio State At Transportation

Research Center’s Cross Country Hilly Course

Over 8 miles of roadway, 1000ft/105 slop, cross-country course, etc.

Future: Leverage LITE

3-D Survey

Use RB’s technology for 3-D survey

Demo

3-D Survey

Differentiating from aerial survey Single point per cell vs multiple points per cell Higher resolution Higher accuracy

Thanks to C&C’s RTK equipment Application

3-D models of levee, coastal region, bridges, structures

Review damages to structures Post construction review of roads, bridges

3-D Games and Animations

Costly part of computer games Creation of models

Use CajunBot technology to create 3-D models Scan objects Extract 3-D points Construct model Skin images

DOD: Robotic Systems

Single autonomous system not sufficient DOD expects collection of autonomous

robots

Robotic Systems: Bottleneck

Critical path technology Software Human computer interface Training of personnel

Testing requires Need fully equipped, functioning vehicles Trained personnel Testing area

Our proposal: Move testing and training to virtual world

Invitation for collaboration Mechanical Engineers; Art and Design

Improve mechanical structures Kinodynamic models of the vehicle

Electrical Engineers Scanning sensors Improve power management

Civil Engineers Use data to build models of roads, terrain, building, etc.

Chemical Engineers Chemical sensors – for spills, etc.

Computer science/engineering All aspects

Visualization, computer games, signal processing, AI