scholarly journals Mobile Robotics in Agricultural Operations: A Narrative Review on Planning Aspects

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 3453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasileios Moysiadis ◽  
Naoum Tsolakis ◽  
Dimitris Katikaridis ◽  
Claus G. Sørensen ◽  
Simon Pearson ◽  
...  

The advent of mobile robots in agriculture has signaled a digital transformation with new automation technologies optimize a range of labor-intensive, resources-demanding, and time-consuming agri-field operations. To that end a generally accepted technical lexicon for mobile robots is lacking as pertinent terms are often used interchangeably. This creates confusion among research and practice stakeholders. In addition, a consistent definition of planning attributes in automated agricultural operations is still missing as relevant research is sparse. In this regard, a “narrative” review was adopted (1) to provide the basic terminology over technical aspects of mobile robots used in autonomous operations and (2) assess fundamental planning aspects of mobile robots in agricultural environments. Based on the synthesized evidence from extant studies, seven planning attributes have been included: (i) high-level control-specific attributes, which include reasoning architecture, the world model, and planning level, (ii) operation-specific attributes, which include locomotion–task connection and capacity constraints, and (iii) physical robot-specific attributes, which include vehicle configuration and vehicle kinematics.

Robotics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 109
Author(s):  
Uwe Jahn ◽  
Daniel Heß ◽  
Merlin Stampa ◽  
Andreas Sutorma ◽  
Christof Röhrig ◽  
...  

Mobile robotics is a widespread field of research, whose differentiation from general robotics is often based only on the ability to move. However, mobile robots need unique capabilities, such as the function of navigation. Also, there are limiting factors, such as the typically limited energy, which must be considered when developing a mobile robot. This article deals with the definition of an archetypal robot, which is represented in the form of a taxonomy. Types and fields of application are defined. A systematic literature review is carried out for the definition of typical capabilities and implementations, where reference systems, textbooks, and literature references are considered.


Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (16) ◽  
pp. 3488
Author(s):  
Javier Monroy ◽  
Jose-Raul Ruiz-Sarmiento ◽  
Francisco-Angel Moreno ◽  
Cipriano Galindo ◽  
Javier Gonzalez-Jimenez

Olfaction is a valuable source of information about the environment that has not been sufficiently exploited in mobile robotics yet. Certainly, odor information can contribute to other sensing modalities, e.g., vision, to accomplish high-level robot activities, such as task planning or execution in human environments. This paper organizes and puts together the developments and experiences on combining olfaction and vision into robotics applications, as the result of our five-years long project IRO: Improvement of the sensory and autonomous capability of Robots through Olfaction. Particularly, it investigates mechanisms to exploit odor information (usually coming in the form of the type of volatile and its concentration) in problems such as object recognition and scene–activity understanding. A distinctive aspect of this research is the special attention paid to the role of semantics within the robot perception and decision-making processes. The obtained results have improved the robot capabilities in terms of efficiency, autonomy, and usefulness, as reported in our publications.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (45) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bladimir Bacca-Cortes ◽  
Beatriz Florián-Gaviria ◽  
Sergio García ◽  
Sebastián Rueda

Mobile robotics is being used in different education contexts such as basic, middle and high level education. A review of the state of the art performed by [1] showed that 197 papers have been published in this area knowledge over the last 10 years. Nowadays, Latin America faces a serious problem regarding the enrolled students in engineering programs, depending to each country, there is a ratio of 1 graduated Engineer per 4500 to 10000 people [2]. In Colombia, the SPADIES program of the Ministry of Education [3] affirms that the lack of motivation and interaction with real artifacts relating theory and practice is an important aspect for dropout. In this paper, a platform composed by a set of programmable mobile robots, and a WEB-responsive software tool for programming at different levels of knowledge was implemented. The set of mobile robots included sensors such as proximity, trajectory, light, inertial, and vision sensors; also, communication and user interaction tools such as Bluetooth and colored LEDs-ring are included; and, a mechanical support for an erasable marker. The WEB-responsive tool supports graphical programming for novice, Python programming for middle, and ANSI-C for advanced level learners. This platform consolidates a hands-on tool to introduce students to STEM concepts. Results are reported in the context of platform functionality using all three programming environments, and beta tests with real users.


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 83
Author(s):  
Emina Petrović ◽  
Miloš Simonović ◽  
Vlastimir Nikolić

Tracking of moving objects, including humans has important role in mobile robotics. In this paper, the hierarchical control structure for target/human tracking consisted of high and low level control was presented. The low level subsystem deals with the control of the linear and angular velocities using multivariable PD controller whose parameters are obtained by Particle swarm optimization. The position control of the mobile robot represents the high level control, where we use two fuzzy logic Mamdani controllers for distance and angle control. In order to test the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme a simulation was performed. Two cases, when the mobile robot pursues a target moving along a circular path and when the mobile robot pursues a target moving along a rectangle path, were simulated.


Author(s):  
Andrea Renda

This chapter assesses Europe’s efforts in developing a full-fledged strategy on the human and ethical implications of artificial intelligence (AI). The strong focus on ethics in the European Union’s AI strategy should be seen in the context of an overall strategy that aims at protecting citizens and civil society from abuses of digital technology but also as part of a competitiveness-oriented strategy aimed at raising the standards for access to Europe’s wealthy Single Market. In this context, one of the most peculiar steps in the European Union’s strategy was the creation of an independent High-Level Expert Group on AI (AI HLEG), accompanied by the launch of an AI Alliance, which quickly attracted several hundred participants. The AI HLEG, a multistakeholder group including fifty-two experts, was tasked with the definition of Ethics Guidelines as well as with the formulation of “Policy and Investment Recommendations.” With the advice of the AI HLEG, the European Commission put forward ethical guidelines for Trustworthy AI—which are now paving the way for a comprehensive, risk-based policy framework.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1388
Author(s):  
Daniele Oboe ◽  
Luca Colombo ◽  
Claudio Sbarufatti ◽  
Marco Giglio

The inverse Finite Element Method (iFEM) is receiving more attention for shape sensing due to its independence from the material properties and the external load. However, a proper definition of the model geometry with its boundary conditions is required, together with the acquisition of the structure’s strain field with optimized sensor networks. The iFEM model definition is not trivial in the case of complex structures, in particular, if sensors are not applied on the whole structure allowing just a partial definition of the input strain field. To overcome this issue, this research proposes a simplified iFEM model in which the geometrical complexity is reduced and boundary conditions are tuned with the superimposition of the effects to behave as the real structure. The procedure is assessed for a complex aeronautical structure, where the reference displacement field is first computed in a numerical framework with input strains coming from a direct finite element analysis, confirming the effectiveness of the iFEM based on a simplified geometry. Finally, the model is fed with experimentally acquired strain measurements and the performance of the method is assessed in presence of a high level of uncertainty.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1235
Author(s):  
Theresa Tschoner

The evaluation and assessment of the level of pain calves are experiencing is important, as the experience of pain (e.g., due to routine husbandry procedures) severely affects the welfare of calves. Studies about the recognition of pain in calves, and especially pain management during and after common procedures, such as castration, dehorning, and disbudding, have been published. This narrative review discusses and summarizes the existing literature about methods for pain assessment in calves. First, it deals with the definition of pain and the challenges associated with the recognition of pain in calves. Then it proceeds to outline the different options and methods for subjective and objective pain assessment in calves, as described in the literature. Research data show that there are several tools suitable for the assessment of pain in calves, at least for research purposes. Finally, it concludes that for research purposes, various variables for the assessment of pain in calves are used in combination. However, there is no variable which can be used solely for the exclusive assessment of pain in calves. Also, further research is needed to describe biomarkers or variables which are easily accessible in the field practice.


2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Houda Ajmi ◽  
Wissem Besghaier ◽  
Wafa Kallala ◽  
Abdelhalim Trabelsi ◽  
Saoussan Abroug

Abstract Background Children affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) showed various manifestations. Some of them were severe cases presenting with multi-system inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) causing multiple organ dysfunction. Case presentation We report the case of a 12-year-old girl with recent COVID-19 infection who presented with persistent fever, abdominal pain and other symptoms that meet the definition of MIS-C. She had lymphopenia and a high level of inflammatory markers. She was admitted to pediatric intensive care unit since she rapidly developed refractory catecholamine-resistant shock with multiple organ failure. Echocardiography showed a small pericardial effusion with a normal ejection fraction (Ejection Fraction = 60%) and no valvular or coronary lesions. The child showed no signs of improvement even after receiving intravenous immunoglobulin, fresh frozen plasma, high doses of Vasopressors and corticosteroid. His outcome was fatal. Conclusion Pediatric patients affected by the new COVID-19 related syndrome may show severe life-threatening conditions similar to Kawasaki disease shock syndrome. Hypotension in these patients results from heart failure and the decreased cardiac output. We report a new severe clinical feature of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children in whom hypotension was the result of refractory vasoplegia.


2014 ◽  
Vol 555 ◽  
pp. 199-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomáš Kot ◽  
Petr Novák

This paper mentions some problems related to utilization of a head-mounted display (HMD) for remote control of mobile robots by a human operator and also presents a possible solution. Considered is specifically the new HMD device called Oculus Rift, which is a very interesting device because of its great parameters and low price. The device is described in the beginning, together with some of the specific principles of the Oculus 3D display. Then follows the design of a new graphical user interface for teleoperation, with main focus on visualization of stereoscopic images from robot cameras. Demonstrated is also a way how to display additional data and information to the operator. The overall aim is to create a comfortable and highly effective interface suitable both for exploration and manipulation tasks in mobile robotics.


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