Meeting on the 18th of August 2021

Location: Chair of CPS

Date & Time: 18th Aug. 2021, 1pm to 2pm

Participants: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Elmar Rueckert, Linus Nwankwo, M.Sc.

Agenda

1. Review of the previous meeting action points
2. Discussion of the first research topic
3. Robot for Control, SLAM, Navigation & Motion Planning Research

Topic 1: Design and Implementation of an Environment Survey Robot

Considerations

Safe human – robot interaction : The robot must have to project the direction of motion in the working environment (enabling humans to note the direction of motion of the robot).

Navigation and Motion Planning: Move around the environment with smooth turning motion (no jerky) and gradual stopping motion. The robot must at the same time detect and avoid obstacles at the workspace.

Localization and Mapping: Update the map of the unknown environment and at the same time keeping track of its current location with respect to the map.

Topic 2: Robots into consideration for the tasks

1. Segway RMP Mobile Platform – RMP Lite 220/400 
2. Segway RMP Mobile Platform – RMP Smart 260 – request for technical details sent (awaiting reply)

Next Steps

1. Investigate the interconnection of Realsense cameras as a Kalman filter
2. Experimentation with the Lego EV3

Next Meeting

Next meeting was scheduled on Thursday, 26th August, 2021. 11:00 am – 12:00 pm.

Meeting on the 13th of August 2021

Location: Chair of CPS

Date & Time: 13th Aug. 2021, 1pm to 2pm

Participants: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Elmar Rueckert, Linus Nwankwo, M.Sc.

Agenda

1. Organisatorial progress
2. Feedback to the research talk presentation
3. Topics of promising future research direction.
4. Next steps.
5. Date of the next meeting.

Top 1: Organisational Update

1. Resident permit application – still in progress (awaiting appointment)

Top 2: Feedback to Research Talk presentation

1.  Use of the University of Leoben slides template for official presentation is required.
2. Use of social media platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.) as footer or header for any presentation not required.
3. Microsoft office tools, Latex etc. can be used for documents preparation

Top 3: Topics of Promising Future Research Direction

1.  Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) optimization using reinforcement learning: In this topic, we propose to study how reinforcement machine learning techniques could be used to optimize LQR controllers.
2. Design and implementation of an Environmental Survey Robot (to be called MoLBot):  In this topic, we proposed to develop a teleprensence robot to be used as a demonstrative system for testing control designs, navigations and motion planning algorithms with the capabilities of interacting with the environment (providing one with a remote pair of mobile eyes and ears to have remote presence at any location). Interactive and sensing features should includes Touch screen, LiDAR sensor, RGB-D camera, or a laser scanner  etc.
3.  Development of an Innovative Stairs Climbing Robot: This project is proposed to develop a robot with the capabilities of climbing floor steps. The type of wheels to adapt the robot for the steps climbing not yet decided.
4. Elevator Caller Robot: This project aims to develop a robot that can autonomously operate the university elevator. The features should at least include ROS Bluetooth with secure encryption.
5. EV3 Lego Project:  In this project, we proposed to assemble the existing EV3 Lego robot parts and train students on environmental perception, navigation and motion planning.

Next Steps

1. Search for adaptable robot wheels for the implementation of topic 3 above
2. Search for a robot base for the implementation of topic 2 above

Next Meeting

Next meeting was scheduled on Wednesday, 18th August, 2021. 11:00 am – 12:00 pm.