The VolksBot Concept – Rapid Prototyping for real-life Applications in Mobile Robotics (Das VolksBot Konzept – Ein Baukastensystem für anwendungsnahes Rapid-Prototyping mobiler Roboter)

Abstract

Summary VolksBot is a modular mobile robot construction kit, developed during the last 3 years to fit the needs in research and education as well as in application-based rapid prototyping. The component-based approach offers a plug-in architecture with open interfaces in electronic hardware, software and mechanics. The lean and open structure fosters reusability of existing modules, both in hardware and software. Initially this concept was successfully applied to indoor applications. The article addresses this concept and shows how it was extended to fit the higher demands of real-life scenarios like outdoor or rough terrain. As a result, the VolksBot RT (Rough Terrain) construction kit is presented. Examples are given, how domain-specific rapid prototyping of variants of such platforms could be achieved in the fields of Urban Search and Rescue and Autonomous Transportation.