Des robots pour quoi faire ?

MobileRobots produces autonomous robots that are the de-facto standard robotic platforms for researchers. The company also diversified into service robotics by introducing delivery robots, security patrol robots, and tele-presence robots.

 

 

Besides designing the nice hardware, autonomous indoor navigation technology is the core competency of MobileRobots. The company has developed a suite of technologies including both software and sensors that enable the mobile robots to reliably navigate and explore various indoor (or indoor-like) environments. As a result, the software platform demonstrates great performance when it comes to autonomous indoor navigation.

The API of the platform is called ARIA (Advanced Robotics Interface Application). The core software package is called Autonomous Robotic Navigation & Localization (ARNL). ARNL enables the robots to navigate both indoor and outdoor environments with high precision. The software package makes heavy use of laser range scanners, encoders on wheels, and, optionally, inertial measurement units (IMU), video cameras, and GPS sensors (outdoor). 

 

 

An OCU software package called MobileEyes comes with the platform. It allows controlling a robot wirelessly; it is enough to click on a map to send a robot to a particular destination on the map. A simulation environment, MobileSim, is based on an open-source Stage simulator (discussed below).

The platform comes with three computer vision software packages. A package called Advanced Color Tracking Software (ACTS) allows color tracking over a wider variety of lighting conditions. The other packages include omnivision dewarping and stereovision range finding software.

The platform does not have its own graphical drag-n-drop service creation environment like other products, but a software program called TrainingFactory allows setting up typical task/mission plans (e.g. patrolling or delivery) in an intuitive way, without programming.