A Segway RMP-Based Robotic Transport System

Abstract

In the area of logistics, there currently is a capability gap between the one-ton Army robotic Multifunction Utility/Logistics and Equipment (MULE) vehicle and a soldier's backpack. The Unmanned Systems Branch at Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWAR Systems Center, or SSC), San Diego, with the assistance of a group of interns from nearby High Tech High School, has demonstrated enabling technologies for a solution that fills this gap. A small robotic transport system has been developed based on the Segway Robotic Mobility Platform(TM) (RMP). We have demonstrated teleoperated control of this robotic transport system, and conducted two demonstrations of autonomous behaviors. Both demonstrations involved a robotic transporter following a human leader. In the first demonstration, the transporter used a vision system running a continuously adaptive mean-shift filter to track and follow a human. In the second demonstration, the separation between leader and follower was significantly increased using Global Positioning System (GPS) information. The track of the human leader, with a GPS unit in his backpack, was sent wirelessly to the transporter, also equipped with a GPS unit. The robotic transporter traced the path of the human leader by following these GPS breadcrumbs. We have additionally demonstrated a robotic medical patient transport capability by using the Segway RMP to power a mock-up of the Life Support for Trauma and Transport (LSTAT) patient care platform, on a standard NATO litter carrier. This paper describes the development of our demonstration robotic transport system and the various experiments conducted.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2004
Accession Number
ADA483534

Entities

People

  • Aaron B. Burmeister
  • Brett Cicchetto
  • Chana Heng
  • Darren Powell
  • Greg Kogut
  • Hoa G. Nguyen
  • Matt Wimmer
  • Narek Pezeshkian
  • Nathan Farrington
  • Ripan Barua

Organizations

  • Naval Information Warfare Systems Command

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • Biomedical
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Center Of Gravity
  • Collision Avoidance
  • Computer Vision
  • Computers
  • Control Systems
  • Kalman Filters
  • Logistics
  • Mobility
  • Naval Warfare
  • Navigation
  • Navigational Equipment
  • Platforms
  • Standards
  • Therapy
  • Unmanned Vehicles
  • Vehicles
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
  • Robotics and Automation.
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • AI & ML - Autonomous Systems
  • Autonomy
  • Space
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers