Robot navigation in pipe networks

Industrial Robot

ISSN: 0143-991x

Article publication date: 1 April 2003

54

Keywords

Citation

Rigelsford, J. (2003), "Robot navigation in pipe networks", Industrial Robot, Vol. 30 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2003.04930bad.011

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited


Robot navigation in pipe networks

Robot navigation in pipe networks

Keywords: Robots, Navigation, Patents

Applicant: GMD GmbH, GermanyPatent number: US6,108,597Publication date: 22 August 2000Title: Autonomous Mobile Robot System forSensor-based and Map-based Navigation in Pipe Networks

An autonomous mobile robot system for sensor-based and map-based navigation in pipe networks is described. The robot system is completely autonomous, having no cable connection to the outside. Its navigation is based on the classification of pre-existing natural landmarks and can compensate for inaccurate robot system’s motion control, sensor information, and landmark classification.

The system comprises a vehicle for moving through the pipe network; a storage device for storing a topological map of landmarks; a route planner; a sensor capable of detecting the presence of landmarks that the vehicle passes; a classifier for classifying the detected landmarks; and an estimator for determining the vehicle’s current position.

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