Laboratory Environment for Algorithms Testing in Mobile Robotics

Abstract

The aim of this research is to create fully functional environment for real-life testing of various algorithms in mobile robotic. Main advantage, beside low-cost, is dealing with challenges of real-life implementation. Unlike simulation environments (e.g. MathLab), this setting will allow researchers to test their path planning, collision detection and other algorithms with real challenges, real robots and real static and dynamic obstacles. Environment is particularly adapted for swarm robotics and any other mobile robotics including 2D and 3D scenarios. Enabling researches to prove their algorithms in this environment allows significantly faster path to real implementation in industry, military and science. Concept is based on OpenCV library and low-cost hardware. Solution is based on visual positioning and motion vector detection. System allows controlling mobile robots via radio communication with the range up to 100m which allows practical application of the system. This research paper should be considered as a part of series of research papers published earlier.