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Field and service robotics : results of the 8th International Conference
Yoshida K., Tadokoro S., Springer Publishing Company, Incorporated, Cham, Switzerland, 2014. 610 pp. Type: Book (978-3-642406-85-0)
Date Reviewed: Oct 28 2014

Mobile robots working in outdoor conditions constitutes a mature research topic with a broad range of applications. In order to obtain a successful result many aspects must be solved, including, among others, mechanical configuration, sensing technologies, autonomous navigation, and robot localization. Another key component is the interaction with the terrain or the environment in a broad sense. For this purpose, appropriate consideration and compensation of undesired natural effects or disturbances is mandatory. Keeping this context in mind, this book offers a must-read volume for researchers involved in the field of mobile robotics.

This essential collection of conference papers moves from search and rescue mobile robots used in the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to a set of the latest topics in service and field robotics. Many applications show the suitability of wheeled robots, aerial robots, and marine robots. Furthermore, some state-of-the-art systems based on laser/lidar/radar and vision technologies are introduced.

The first three papers deal with the application of mobile robots to the inspection and map generation of the Fukushima power plant. In my view, these works constitute a clear inspiration and show the true meaning of what mobile robotics is. From a scientific point of view, they also comprise a fundamental contribution because researchers deeply detail the lessons learned in these unprecedented robotic missions.

The next three papers address the problem of mobile rescue robots using vision cameras as the primary source for mapping a disaster environment. The following set of three papers shows the applicability of search and rescue robots (for example, as mine detection systems). The human-in-the-loop aspect is addressed in the second paper. The last paper in this set presents the stimulating RoboCup Rescue Robot League competition.

From here, eight papers demonstrate the broad applicability of service robots. They cover a people detection system and the experiences obtained after using an Android robot in a medical center, a robot swarm that is able to reproduce an animation created by a human being, a robotic system for leg rehabilitation, a steel bridge maintenance system, an aerial robot for vertical inspection of infrastructures, a remote gas leak detection system for industrial environments, and the successful application of an autonomous wheelchair robotic system in an urban environment.

The remaining papers are related to mobile robots working in off-road conditions with a focus on challenging terrains (for example, sloped terrain, bumpy terrain, and planetary exploration, among others). In particular, these robots try to compensate for the disturbances encountered by modifying their behavior accordingly. Scientific background covers semantic maps, optimal control, visual odometry, excavation control, rock recognition, plowing for rover control, terrain modeling, path planning and navigation, shear interface imaging analysis, three-dimensional (3D) surface reconstruction, classification and reconstruction of outdoor scenes, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), omnidirectional motion control, and mobile robot velocity kinematics.

In conclusion, this book has a clear structure and is fairly readable. The topic covered may be adequate for graduate-level studies. However, I do not advise using this book in introductory courses because the mathematical background goes beyond a basic knowledge of robotics.

Reviewer:  Ramon Gonzalez Sanchez Review #: CR142870 (1502-0130)
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Robotics (I.2.9 )
 
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