Climbing And Walking Robots Towards New Applications

Nowadays robotics is one of the most dynamic fields of scientific researches. The shift of robotics researches from manufacturing to services applications is clear. During the last decades interest in studying climbing and walking robots has been increased. This increasing interest has been in many areas that most important ones of them are: mechanics, electronics, medical engineering, cybernetics, controls, and computers. Today’s climbing and walking robots are a combination of manipulative, perceptive, communicative, and cognitive abilities and they are capable of performing many tasks in industrial and non- industrial environments. Surveillance, planetary exploration, emergence rescue operations, reconnaissance, petrochemical applications, construction, entertainment, personal services, intervention in severe environments, transportation, medical and etc are some applications from a very diverse application fields of climbing and walking robots. By great progress in this area of robotics it is anticipated that next generation climbing and walking robots will enhance lives and will change the way the human works, thinks and makes decisions. This book presents the state of the art achievments, recent developments, applications and future challenges of climbing and walking robots. These are presented in 24 chapters by authors throughtot the world The book serves as a reference especially for the researchers who are interested in mobile robots. It also is useful for industrial engineers and graduate students in advanced study.

The interest in climbing and walking robots (CLAWAR) has intensified in recent years, and novel solutions for complex and very diverse applications have been anticipated by means of significant progress in this area of robotics. The shift of robotics from manufacturing to services is clearly gaining pace as witnessed by the growth in activities in the CLAWAR area. Moreover, the amalgamation of original ideas and related innovations, search for new potential applications and the use of state of the art support technologies indicate that important steps are likely in the near future and the results could have a significant beneficial socio-economic impact. This book reports on state of the art latest research and development findings and results presented in the CLAWAR 2005 Conference. These are presented in 131 technical articles by authors from 27 countries worldwide. The book is structured into 21 sections, which include some of the traditional topics featured in previous CLAWAR conferences with a set of new topics such as bioengineering, flexible manipulators, personal assistance applications, non-destructive test applications, security and surveillance applications and space applications of robotics. The editors are grateful to colleagues within the committee structure of the CLAWAR 2005 for their help in the review process of the articles and their support throughout this project.

Recent advances in robot technology from around the world Climbing and Walking Robots: From Biology to Industrial Applications is a collection of papers presented at the 2001 CLAWAR conference. Featuring current work from leading robotics labs around the globe, this book presents the latest in robotics across industries and suggests directions for future research. Topics include design methodology, bipedal locomotion, fluid actuators, sensor systems, control architecture and simulation, and more. Relevant to mechanical engineers and robotics specialists in both industry and academia, these papers showcase the field's latest technological advances.

Robotic technology advances for a wide variety of applications Climbing and Walking Robots and the Support Technologies for Mobile Machines explores the increasing interest in real-world robotics and the surge in research and invention it has inspired. Featuring the latest advances from leading robotics labs around the globe, this book presents solutions for perennial challenges in robotics and suggests directions for future research. With applications ranging from personal services and entertainment to emergency rescue and extreme environment intervention, the groundbreaking work presented here provides a glimpse of the future.

This book provides state of the art scientific and engineering research findings and developments in the area of mobile robotics and associated support technologies. The book contains peer reviewed articles presented at the CLAWAR 2011 conference. A great deal of interest is vested in the use of robots outside the factory environment. The CLAWAR conference series, established as a high profile international event, acts as a platform for dissemination of research and development findings and supports the trend to address current interest in mobile robotics to meet the needs of mankind in various segments of the society. Field robotics aims to bring technologies that allow autonomous systems to assist and/or replace humans performing tasks that are difficult, repetitive, unpleasant, or take place in hazardous environments. These robotic systems will bring sociological and economic benefits through improved human safety, increased equipment utilisation, reduced maintenance costs and increased production.

Bringing together academics, researchers, and industrialists, Climbing and Walking Robots 2003 (CLAWAR 2003) provides a forum for cross-fertilization in the different specialities so that both state-of-the-art and industrial applications can be reported on. Original contributions, both industrial and those in new/emerging fields, provide a full picture of climbing and walking robots. The interest in climbing and walking robots (CLAWAR) has increased considerably over recent years, addressing many application fields such as exploration/intervention in extreme environments, personal services, emergency rescue operations, transportation, entertainment, etc., and envisage humanoid robots evolving into mechatronic replicas of ourselves. Topics covered include: Biological Inspired Systems Medical Systems Control of CLAWAR Design Methodology System Modelling and Simulation Modularity and System Architecture Gait Generation and Stability of CLAWAR Biped Locomotion Multi-legged Locomotion Micro Machines Applications Climbing Robots Actuators, Sensors, Navigation, and Sensors Fusion CLAWAR Network Workpackages

The proceedings provide state-of-the-art scientific and engineering research findings and developments in the area of mobile robotics and assistive technologies. The proceedings collected together peer reviewed articles presented at the CLAWAR 2013 conference. It contains a strong showing of articles on legged locomotion with numbers of legs from two onwards. There is also a good collection of articles on systems that walls climbing, poles balancing, and other more complex structures following the traditional of CLAWAR themes. In addition, the proceedings also cover the subject of robot-human interaction, which focus on a more “human” way of communicating with humanoid robots. As for human assistive devices, proceedings also cover exoskeletal and prosthetic devices, robots for personal and nursing cares to address the issues of ageing population in our society. Finally, the issue of the deployment of robots in society, it social and ethically consideration are also addressed in the proceedings. Contents:Plenary PresentationsAssistive RoboticsAutonomous RobotsBiologically-Inspired Systems and SolutionsHMI, Inspection and LearningInnovative Design of CLAWARLocomotionManipulation and GrippingModelling and Simulation of CLAWARPlanning and ControlPositioning, Localization and PerceptionSensing and Sensor FusionService Robot Standards and Standardization Readership: Systems and control engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers in academic, research and industrial settings; engineers and practitioners in the public services sectors in health care, manufacturing, supply and delivery services. Keywords:Assistive Robotics;Autonomous Robots;Biologically Inspired Robotics;CLAWAR;Climbing and Walking Robots;Design of CLAWAR;Hybrid Locomotion;Legged Locomotion;Mobile Robots;Modeling and Simulation;Planning and Control;Robot Standardization;Service Robotics;Wheeled Locomotion