SBIR Phase I: Commercial Scale-Up Of An Intelligent Modular Robot Platform iMobot for Research and Education

该小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将研究一种名为iMobot的智能可重构模块化机器人系统的商业化可行性，该系统最初由加州大学戴维斯分校开发。如今，机器人技术已经超越了自动化，涵盖了自主、可重构、移动的、智能和感知环境的智能系统。iMobot具有四个自由度，能够完全移动并组装成集群。由于其灵活性、模块化和可重构性，iMobot将成为高校许多研究和教学项目的理想平台。例如，它允许研究人员研究人工智能、群技术、机器人协作、移动的网络和可重构性编程。iMobot采用开放式架构设计。每个模块都有一个处理器，能够支持传感器融合，步态模拟，并运行一个开源的嵌入式Linux操作系统。用户可以根据自己的特定需求定制软件和配件。拟议的产品可行性研究包括模块之间的适应性连接、智能即插即用传感器、坚固轻便的底盘以及可重新配置性。在这个拟议的项目中，一个专业的设计团队将重新设计和建立一个商业质量的原型iMobot的大量生产。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力在于，拟议的项目将是扩大智能可重构模块化机器人用于商业部署的首批尝试之一。iMobot可用于大学研究和教学，K-12 STEM教育，以及第一响应系统中的救生救援和搜索行动。通过使用开放式架构的标准化硬件基础，用户将能够更广泛地相互共享他们的工作，并创建有价值的开放式教育资源。机器人是一个跨学科的领域。iMobot独特的全移动性和可重新配置性对大学和K-12学生非常有吸引力。该机器人可以单独使用或与其他人合作使用，使其成为一种灵活且可扩展的教育工具。通过向学生介绍有趣的机器人项目与负担得起的硬件平台，其中涉及各种数学，物理，信息技术和工程原理，我们可以激发他们的想象力，让他们有信心追求干事业，特别是对代表性不足和经济弱势群体。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will study the feasibility for commercialization of an intelligent reconfigurable modular robot system called iMobot, which was originally developed at the University of California, Davis. Nowadays, robotics has grown beyond automation to encompass intelligent systems that are self-reliant, reconfigurable, mobile, intelligent, and aware of their environment. iMobot has four degrees of freedom capable of full mobility and assembly into clusters. Because of its flexibility, modularity, and reconfigurability, iMobot will be an ideal platform for many research and teaching programs in colleges and universities. For example, it allows researchers to study artificial intelligence, swarm technology, robot collaboration, mobile networking, and programming for reconfigurability. iMobot is designed with open architecture. Each module has a processor capable of supporting sensor fusion, gait simulation, and runs an open source embedded Linux operating system. Users can customize software and accessories for their specific needs. Proposed product feasibility research includes adaptable connectivity between modules, intelligent plug-and-play sensors, a robust and lightweight chassis, and re-configurability. In this proposed project, a professional design team will re-design and build a commercial quality prototype of iMobot for manufacturing in a large quantity. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is that the proposed project will be one of the first attempts to scale up an intelligent reconfigurable modular robot for commercial deployment. The iMobot could be used for university research and teaching, K-12 STEM education, and life-saving rescue and search operations in the first responder system. With a standardized hardware base using an open architecture, users will be able to more widely share their work with each other, and to create a valuable open educational resource. Robotics is an interdisciplinary field. The unique full mobility and reconfigurability of iMobot are very appealing to college and K-12 students. The robot can be used alone or in collaboration with others, making it a flexible and scalable educational tool. By introducing students to interesting robotic projects with affordable hardware platforms, which involve a variety of math, physics, information technology, and engineering principles, we can excite their imagination and give them confidence to pursue STEM careers, especially for underrepresented and economically disadvantaged groups.