Objectives

The objectives of the proposed project are:

To develop an intelligent neural system for the movement control of a mobile robot.
To create an "artificial" brain for control of both movement and orientation of the robot in space. The general model of interaction of the offered system with environment is shown in the following fig.

The general model of interaction

To consider sensor inputs, providing the source information for such a control system: diagram of environmental conditions from range sensor devices; dead reckoning based on wheel encoders (coordinates of initial and final point of robot movement is given). The sensors to be employed will be low'cost ultrasonic and infrared sensors as well as cameras.
To combine the information of multiple inexpensive sensors by data fusion and adaptive control schemes to derive a fault tolerant, robust performance of the robot. In particular when inexpensive sensors will be combined by intelligent algorithms to derive efficient reactions, there can be expected an interesting economic potential.
To generate with the neural network the direction and speed of movement, on the basis of the information from sensor devices. If necessary it should be able to correct the internal map of the environment during the movement.
To investigate the various neural nets for the different functionalities, which are to be combined in an intelligent system.
To solve the following problems with the neural system: navigation of the robot for movements in only partially known environments; formation of a region map during driving in the unknown area; planning of an optimum route for the movement; supervised training; unsupervised training for self-organisation during the movement of the robot; capability for real time actions.