NSERC Canadian Field Robotics Network (NCFRN)

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The NSERC Field Robotics Network (NFRN) brings together Canadian mobile robotics researchers, companies, and government players to integrate research efforts on the development of outdoor (field) robotics systems to address the scientific, technological and operational challenges that hinder the use of complete robotics systems in natural environments. Specifically, our network will address issues of autonomous data collection, environment modelling, positioning, navigation, detection and planning. These core competencies, and the software infrastructure that supports them, are the basis of key robotics applications that are of broad economic and scientific relevance. In addition to the principal applicants and participating companies, the proposal includes provision for a substantial number "Distal Fellows," academics who will also join the network as part of on an ongoing process. Outdoor environments are among the places where robots have the greatest potential, especially in the Canadian context. Robotic systems can be the key to monitoring and maintaining the state of our environmental heritage, performing border patrol to assure the integrity of our borders, testing the quality of our air and water, or even dealing with environmental disaster, nuclear accidents, toxic waste or search and rescue operations. These applications depend, however, on using teams of robots and combining different robotics technologies and, in some cases, different types of robot to effectively cover the diversity that is found in the natural world. Together, the participants will identify the common challenges and approaches that will allow robotic systems to operate for extended periods in a range of domains. Putting this into practice involves both addressing scientific challenges to build and extend algorithms and solution techniques, but also the development of software tools and methods to allow these techniques to be deployed in real systems that can work outside a controlled laboratory environment.