| Thanks to Joe for his presentation on robotics and Java! |
|
|
|
|
|
Abstract
|
| At a regular monthly meeting of the Connecticut Java Users Group on Tuesday, March 4, Joe Bosworth will present an overview of Smart Robot's use of Java, LINUX, Apache, XML, and My*SQL in the programming and operation of their SR4 mobile robot, including the applicability of this same software in driving the new VisionArm(TM) robotic arm that the company has designed, prototyped and is readying for manufacturing. A preview will also be presented of the upcoming presentation on the VisionArm(TM) to be given at the SPIE Defense and Security conference in Orlando, Florida. |
|
This presentation discusses the software of a checkpoint surveillance system currently in development – focusing particularly on inverse-kinematics and the special trajectory and “corridor” control needs of a device performing this task. Included also is the coordination of the close-to-the-ground base vehicle control with the robotic arm control and the methods for adding a vertical elevation control for both outside and inside-the-target-vehicle work as well. A work-envelope map of a typical target vehicle is illustrated and task solutions and principles presented which enable a high level of surveillance and analysis coverage of the vehicle – correlated to the hardware and software components of each segment of the operation.
|
|
There are many activities going on all at once during the surveillance sweep of a vehicle; arm motion control, camera control, stabilizer control (arm-base platform), real-time chemical analysis of more than one chemical, pressure-touch sensing, real-time video image analysis (automated and manual), audio capture, arm “skin” contact detection and response (automatic and manual) and mission fulfillment tracking. All of these activities must be and are easily accessible for control and monitoring from a simple uncluttered operational dashboard.
|
|
By way of semi-automated capability, the software behind this smart arm application is designed to support the “spotting” of areas-of-interest in the arm camera’s video image in real time via stereo laser beams and then by the click of a mouse to direct the arm to approach that area by an increment of the distance to the area – e.g. one-half the distance – to be in a position to change a perspective view, to acquire further chemical readings and/or to execute a remove-tarp-cover operation, etc. Similarly the arm can automatically pull back from an area – the reverse of the spot-and-close operation – along the trajectory it just came.
|
|
Presentation will cover:
- SR4 Robot
- VisionArm™
- vehicle inspection application in a broader presentation more focused on Java and Flex
|
|
Presenter
|
| Joe Bosworth organized with others to establish the National Personal Robot Association (NPRA) in the early 1980’s and was its first Chairman. He also chaired the first International Personal Robot Congress (IPRC) held in Albuquerque in 1984, keynoted by Isaac Asimov and Joseph Engelberger. He served as chairman of the military/civilian Robotics Subcommittee of the Reliability and Maintainability Study for materiel readiness for the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) with the Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA). Joe is currently CEO of Smart Robots, Inc., in Dalton, Massachusetts. |
|
Company
|
| Smart Robots is a development stage company which has been focusing these past two years on the development of the VisionArm™; a relatively light, but long reach commercial level robotic arm which eventually will employ vision recognition and vision guidance technology in its performance of tasks. Initial applications for the arm are expected to involve remote operator control. You can view a video of the company’s other product area, the SR4 mobile robot, at http://www.smartrobots.com/videos/smart_robots.wmv [that’s an underscore between “smart” and “robots”]. |
|
|
