Translating Advanced Camera Tracking Technology to High Precision and High Reliability Indoor Navigation Sensing Enabling More Applications for the Growing Robotics Market

“移动机器人技术已经改变了工业的面貌。通过以自动化方式移动材料和产品，它们提供了高效且经济高效的方式来存储和管理许多工业活动中的产品流动。自动导引车(AGV)用于此目的，只需最少的人工干预。特别是，亚马逊在其仓库中广泛使用AGV来加快货物的收集和运输。然而，为了能够很好地执行这一任务，机器人必须知道它们在哪里(定位)，它们需要去哪里，并以一种安全运输和不损坏(控制)的方式移动。AGV使用一系列导航系统来实现这一点。它们的范围从简单的电线、磁带或磁性系统到更复杂的惯性、激光目标或同时定位和测绘(SLAM)系统。对于简单、重复的运动，以及对于基本保持不变的开放环境，电线/磁带和其他制导解决方案通常是足够的。然而，在工厂环境困难(如复杂的管道系统)或集装箱或部件的连接/连接需要高精度时，特别是在含有危险化学品的安全关键环境中，大多数当前的AGV解决方案在准确性、可靠性和功能方面都存在不足。“Startracker”是一种向上看的视觉传感器，它相对于随机粘贴的反光贴纸进行自我定位。该方法已经成熟，获得了专利，并在电视绿幕演播室使用了三年多。它是健壮的，不受对比度变化的影响，并且可以在黑暗中工作。本项目的目的是开发这项技术，主要是在精度和控制领域，用于AGV应用。它不需要任何地面导航系统或激光扫描仪来试图识别动态变化环境中的位置。一旦贴纸贴在天花板上，所有对象都指的是同一个世界，可以在智能工厂中进行协作。StarTracker将能够在无限的室内区域内稳健而准确地引导AGV。除了在成本、时间和相关行业的生产率方面的好处外，它还将在减少人为错误、提高危险环境中的安全性以及将人类从单调的任务中转移到更具附加值的活动方面带来许多更广泛的好处。这项技术还有可能渗透到医疗保健、家庭和其他机器人应用中。

"Mobile robotics have already changed the face of industry. By moving materials and products in an automated manner, they offer efficient and cost-effective ways to store and manage the flow of products through many industrial activities.Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) are used for this purpose with minimal human intervention. Amazon, in particular, are using AGVs extensively within its warehouses to speed-up the collection and shipping of goods.However, to be able to carry this out well, the robots must know where they are (localisation), where they need to go, and to move in such a way that the materials are safely transported and are not damaged (control). AGVs use a range of guidance systems to do this. These range from simple wire, tape, or magnetic systems to more complex inertial, laser target, or Simultaneous Localisation And Mapping (SLAM) systems.For simple, repetitive motions, and for open environments that remain largely unchanged, wire/tape and other guidance solutions are usually adequate. However, where the factory environment is difficult (e.g. complex pipework) or when high-precision is required for coupling/joining of containers or parts, and particularly in safety-critical environments with dangerous chemicals, most current AGV solutions fall short in terms of accuracy, reliability, and functionality.Mo-Sys has developed a world-leading camera positioning and tracking system for use in the media industries. ""StarTracker"" is an upwards looking visual sensor that orientates itself relative to randomly applied reflective stickers. The method is matured, patented and used for over three years in TV green screen studios. It is robust, immune to contrast changes, and can work in darkness.It is the intention of this project to develop this technology, primarily in the areas of accuracy and control, for AGV applications. It would not require any floor-based guiding systems or laser scanners that try to recognise a position within a dynamically changing environment. Once the stickers are on the ceiling, all objects refer to the same world and can collaborate in a smart factory. StarTracker would be able to guide an AGV robustly and precisely within an unlimited indoor area.Aside from benefits in cost, time, and productivity for the relevant industries, it would have numerous wider benefits in terms of reducing human error, increasing safety in hazardous environments, and removing humans from monotonous tasks in to more value-added activity. The technology also has the potential to trickle-down in to healthcare, domestic and other robotic applications."