Using Mobile Devices for Robotic Controllers: Examples and Some Initial Concepts for Experimentation
Abstract
The U.S. Army has a great interest in unmanned robotic systems. Robotic systems are seen as potential force multipliers because some robotic systems can do tasks that would otherwise require one or more Soldiers. Robotic systems are also seen in terms of potential force protection because some technology can be used in environments where Soldiers might be at risk, thereby reducing Soldiers' exposure to potential harm. A related area of research pertains to human interaction with unmanned systems (UMS). Many studies have been conducted on appropriate displays and controls for use by humans in controlling UMS. For example, within the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), there has been a series of experiments examining various size displays and various types of controls for use with small unmanned robots. During the summer of 2010, a project was undertaken to investigate the current applications using mobile devices for robotic controllers. This project was divided into two parts: (1) searching internet videos to identify examples of mobile handheld devices used as robotic controllers, and (2) making user-interface design recommendations to improve an existing prototype of a smart phone robotic controller developed by ARL. An internet search was conducted for examples of mobile handheld devices that were used for robotic controllers. The online videos obtained were categorized in terms of the hardware device used. The four hardware devices used in the videos were the Nintendo Wii Remote, the Apple iPhone, the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) console, and a Sony personal digital assistant (PDA). For each example, there is a brief description of the video detailing the application and the function of the handheld device. Observations of controller features and issues were recorded for each video.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA549454
Entities
People
- Rosemarie E. Yagoda
- Susan G. Hill
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory