Integration of cooperative mobile robots and networked sensor fusion in Safety/Security-Critical tasks

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Several prominent US researchers have proposed research on "Engineering of Sensor Network Structure for Dependable Fusion" for the Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) of the US Department of Defense (DoD). The US Army Research Office (ARO) has recently funded this project. The US proposal has identified Dr. Clarence de Silva of the University of British Columbia as the only Canadian collaborator of the planned research. The successful MURI application provides a unique window of opportunity for us to collaborate in this research project which is of significant mutual interest. The US researchers will primarily focus on dynamic sensor networking and information fusion in an unstructured urban environment for safety/security critical operations. Given these technologies of dynamically networked information acquisition and fusion, the proposed SRO project will concentrate on research to develop technologies for multi-robot cooperation in carrying out tasks critical for human safety/security in an unstructured urban environment. Specifically the SRO project will focus on: Behaviour-based Learning for Self-deterministic Cooperation of Robots; Use of Genetic Algorithms (GA) for Optimization of the Robotic Structure and Actions; Integration of GA with Reinforcement Learning (RL) for Generating Optimal Cooperation Policies; Use of Artificial Immune Systems (AIS) for System Robustness and Self-organization; Soft Computing and Knowledge Based Decision Making for Intelligent Control; and Integration of US-originated Research on Dynamic Sensor Networking and Fusion. The activities will involve analytical research; computer simulation; technology development and implementation in a prototype laboratory system of multiple mobile robots; integration of the physical system together with a dynamic networking topology for communication and information fusion (developed by US researchers); practical demonstration of a realistic safety/security critical activity; and system evaluation through rigorous physical testing.