Difference between revisions of ""TROLL": a regenerating robot"

From ISLAB/CAISR
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Challenge: it's tough even for humans to repair robots.
 
Challenge: it's tough even for humans to repair robots.
 
For a soft companion robot intended to interact closely with people, two very common problems are:
 
For a soft companion robot intended to interact closely with people, two very common problems are:
   degradation of its exterior (marks and scratches)
+
   Degradation of its exterior (marks and scratches)
   motor problems (due to e.g., frayed/loose cables, gears wearing down)
+
   Motor problems (due to e.g., frayed/loose cables, gears wearing down)
  
 
Approach:  
 
Approach:  

Revision as of 14:20, 11 November 2014

Title "TROLL": a regenerating robot
Summary "TROLL": a regenerating robot
Keywords
TimeFrame
References K. Gold, B. Scassellati, Using probabilistic reasoning over time to self-recognize, Robotics and Autonomous Systems (2008), doi:10.1016/j.robot.2008.07.006
Prerequisites
Author
Supervisor Martin Cooney, Anita Sant'Anna
Level Master
Status Open


Goal: a companion robot which can fix some of its own problems itself

Motivation: people, especially the elderly, cannot be expected to maintain very complex robots; robots should help out

Challenge: it's tough even for humans to repair robots. For a soft companion robot intended to interact closely with people, two very common problems are:

 Degradation of its exterior (marks and scratches)
 Motor problems (due to e.g., frayed/loose cables, gears wearing down)

Approach:

 To detect the problems above, the student will set up a robot to look at itself periodically 
   in a mirror while moving, comparing a mental model of itself with what it actually perceives. 
 Time allowing, the student should also try to develop some capability for the robot to seek to 
   repair identified problems: marking holes in its exterior and damaged motors, and possibly 
   robot motions to try to fill holes with foam

Requirement: some capability to work with software, and interest in robots and recognition

Expected results: a thesis/report, code, video