Autonomous Communication Relays for Tactical Robots

Abstract

One of the weaknesses of current mobile robots operating in real-world scenarios is the communication link to the operator's console. Hard cables reduce mobility and often become entangled and broken, rendering the robot inoperable. User surveys have identified radio-frequency (RF) communications as more desirable. However, most RF communication systems currently employed on teleoperated robots in the field are analog which often experience signal interference, multipath, and attenuation. Spread spectrum digital systems are more immune to these problems and provide a level of transmission security, but operate at shorter ranges and mostly on line-of-sight (LOS).