Imaging technology opens up new robotic applications

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to review the use of imaging technologies in robotics, with an emphasis on inspection applications and the control of autonomous robots. Design/methodology/approach Following a brief introduction, this paper first considers vision‐based robotic inspection systems and highlights a selection of recent applications. Second, it considers the use of vision in autonomous robot navigation and discusses some of the challenges and recent developments. Findings This shows that developments in machine vision have led to vision systems being used in a diversity of component‐level and in‐service robotic inspection tasks. It also illustrates that vision systems have a key role to play in the emerging generation of autonomous, mobile robots. Originality/value This paper provides a review of recent developments in vision‐based robotic inspection and autonomous, mobile robot navigation.