• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.147-154
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• 2002

In this paper, a path navigation algorithm through use of a sensor platform is proposed. The sensor platform is composed of two electric motors which make panning and tilting motions. An algorithm for computing a real path and an obstacle length is developed by using a scanning method that controls rotation of the sensors on the platform. An Autonomous Robot Vehicle(ARV) can perceive the given path by adapting this algorithm. A sensor scanning method is applied to the sensor platform for using small numbers of sensor. The path navigation algorithm is composed of two parts. One is to perceive a path pattern, the other is used to avoid an obstacle. An optimal controller is designed for tracking the reference path which is generated by perceiving the path pattern. The ARV is operated using the optimal controller and the path navigation algorithm. Based on the results of actual experiments, this algorithm for an ARV proved sufficient for path navigation by small number of sensors and for a low cost controller by using the sensor platform with a scanning method.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.257-264
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• 2009

This paper proposes a novel face detection method that finds tiny faces located at a long range even with low-resolution input images captured by a mobile robot. The proposed approach can locate extremely small-sized face regions of $12{\times}12$ pixels. We solve a tiny face detection problem by organizing a system that consists of multiple detectors including a mean-shift color tracker, short- and long-rage face detectors, and an omega shape detector. The proposed method adopts the long-range face detector that is well trained enough to detect tiny faces at a long range, and limiting its operation to only within a search region that is automatically determined by the mean-shift color tracker and the omega shape detector. By focusing on limiting the face search region as much as possible, the proposed method can accurately detect tiny faces at a long distance even with a low-resolution image, and decrease false positives sharply. According to the experimental results on realistic databases, the performance of the proposed approach is at a sufficiently practical level for various robot applications such as face recognition of non-cooperative users, human-following, and gesture recognition for long-range interaction.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.2346-2349
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• 2005

Distributed Autonomous Robotic System (DARS) is defined as a system that independent autonomous robots in the restricted environments infer their status from pre-assigned conditions and operate their jobs through the cooperation with each other. In the DARS, a robot contains sensor part to percept the situation around themselves, communication part to exchange information, and actuator part to do a work. Especially, in order to cooperate with other robots, communicating with other robots is one of the essential elements. Because Bluetooth has many advantages such as low power consumption, small size module package, and various standard protocols, Bluetooth is rated as one of the efficient communicating technologies which can apply to small-sized robot system. In this paper, we will develop Bluetooth communicating system for autonomous robots such as DARS robots. For this purpose, The Bluetooth communication system must have several features. The first, this system should be separated from other robot parts and operate spontaneously and independently. In other words, this communication system should have the ability to organize and maintain and reorganize a network scheme. The next, this system had better support any kinds of standard interfaces in order to guarantee flexible applicability to other embedded system. We will discuss how to construct and what kind of procedure to develop the network system.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.661-669
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• 1995

A mobile robot, named KAEROT, has been developed for inspection and maintenance operations in nuclear facilities. The main feature of locomotion system is the planetary wheel assembly with small wheels. This mechanism has been designed to be able to go over the stairs and obstacles with stability. This paper presents the inverse kinematic solution that is to be operated by remote control. The automatic stair climbing algorithm is also proposed. The. proposed algorithms generates the moving pathes of small wheels and calculates the angular velocity of 3 actuation wheels. The results of simulations and experiments are given for KAEROT peformed on the irregular stairs in laboratory. It is shown that the proposed algorithm provides the lower inclination angle of the robot body and increases its stability during navigation.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.275-281
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• 2007

This paper presents a motion planning strategy for legged robots using locomotion primitives in the complex 3D environments. First, we define configuration, motion primitives and locomotion primitives for legged robots. A hierarchical motion planning method based on a combination of 2.5 dimensional maps of the 3D workspace is proposed. A global navigation map is obtained using 2.5 dimensional maps such as an obstacle height map, a passage map, and a gradient map of obstacles to distinguish obstacles. A high-level path planner finds a global path from a 2D navigation map. A mid-level planner creates sub-goals that help the legged robot efficiently cope with various obstacles using only a small set of locomotion primitives that are useful for stable navigation of the robot. A local obstacle map that describes the edge or border of the obstacles is used to find the sub-goals along the global path. A low-level planner searches for a feasible sequence of locomotion primitives between sub-goals. We use heuristic algorithm in local motion planner. The proposed planning method is verified by both locomotion and soccer experiments on a small biped robot in a cluttered environment. Experiment results show an improvement in motion stability.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1027-1033
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• 2016

There is an increasing need for manufacturing systems to produce batches in small quantities. Such manufacturing systems are significantly difficult to develop with conventional automation equipment. Recently, several research groups have applied industrial dual-arm robots to cell production lines. A synchronization method for robots is necessary for the cell production process when robots work in a shared workspace. Conventional automation factories do not need this method because the main control system operates all of the machines or robots. However, our intended application for the developed robot is in small manufacturing environments that cannot install an expensive main control system. We propose an inexpensive and high-performance method with a simple digital in/out channel using a real-time communication protocol. The developed method was validated in a pilot production line for cellular phone packing.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.626-631
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• 2005

This paper presents the target object search algorithm under dynamic programming (DP) in the Tree-type maze. We organized an experimental environment with the concatenation Y-shape diverged way, small mobile robot, and a target object. By the principle of optimality, the backbone of DP, an agent recognizes that a given whole problem can be solved if the values of the best solution of certain ancillary problem can be determined according to the principle of optimality. In experiment, we used two different control algorithms: a left-handed method and DP. Finally we verified the efficiency of DP in the practical application using a real robot.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.2198-2203
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• 2022

As robotics become more sophisticated, there are a growing number of generic systems being used for routine tasks in nuclear environments to reduce risk to radiation workers. The nuclear sector has called for more commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) devices and components to be used in preference to nuclear specific hardware, enabling robotic operations to become more affordable, reliable, and abundant. To ensure reliable operation in nuclear environments, particularly in high-gamma facilities, it is important to quantify the tolerance of electronic systems to ionizing radiation. To deliver their full potential to end-users, mobile robots require sophisticated autonomous behaviors and sensing, which requires significant computational power. A popular choice of computing system, used in low-cost mobile robots for nuclear environments, is the UP Core single board computer. This work presents estimates of the total ionizing dose that the UP Core running the Robot Operating System (ROS) can withstand, through gamma irradiation testing using a Co-60 source. The units were found to fail on average after 111.1 ± 5.5 Gy, due to faults in the on-board power management circuitry. Its small size and reasonable radiation tolerance make it a suitable candidate for robots in nuclear environments, with scope to use shielding to enhance operational lifetime.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.793-798
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• 2010

In this paper we propose a low-power walking compensation method for biped robot based on consumption energy analysis. Firstly, basic walking motions that can reduce energy consumption of robot movements are implemented based on consumption energy analysis according to robot axes. We define knee bent motion as a basic walking motion. It can improve energy consumption and motion stability by lowering center of gravity of the biped robot. We analyze consumption energy of left and right leg of the robot using motor currents and propose a compensation method of walking motions to reduce unbalance of consumption energy between left leg and right leg. It can also improve energy consumption and walking stability of the robot. The proposed low-power compensation method based on consumption energy analysis is verified by walking experiments of a small biped robot with an embedded system.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.385-393
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• 2016

This paper presents the new position estimation method which contains the optical displacement sensor and the dead reckoning based position estimation algorithm for automation of hull cleaning robot. To evaluate feasibility of the proposed position estimation method on the hull cleaning robot, it was applied on the small scale robot model which has an identical drive method with the hull cleaning robot and then a set of the position estimation experiments were performed. The experimental results of the position estimation demonstrate that the estimated results with the optical displacement sensors is more accurate than used rotary encoder method. In addition, it continuously calculated the robot position quite close to the real robot driving path. In a follow-up study, the proposed position estimation method will be complemented and exploited on the actual hull cleaning robot by adding additional sensor modules that correct measurement errors.