六足机器人动态目标检测与跟踪系统研究

动态目标检测与目标跟踪是图像领域的热点研究问题,为研究其在移动机器人领域的应用价值,设计了六足机器人动态目标检测与跟踪系统。针对非刚体运动目标容易被检测为多个分散区域的问题提出区域合并算法,并通过对称匹配、自适应外点滤除对运动背景进行精确补偿,最终基于背景补偿法实现对运动目标的精确检测。研究了基于KCF（Kernel Correlation Filter）的目标跟踪算法在六足机器人平台上的应用,设计了自适应跟踪算法实现六足机器人对运动目标的角度跟踪。将运动目标检测及跟踪算法应用于六足机器人系统。实验表明,在六足机器人移动过程中,系统可对运动目标进行精确检测与跟踪。     

Motion Planning Strategy for Finding an Object with a Mobile Manipulator in Three-Dimensional Environments

In this paper, we investigate the problem of minimizing the average time required to find an object in a known three-dimensional environment. We consider a 7-d.o.f. mobile manipulator with an 'eye-in-hand' sensor. In particular, we address the problem of searching for an object whose unknown location is characterized by a known probability density function. We present a discrete formulation, in which we use a visibility-based decomposition of the environment. We introduce a sample-based convex cover to estimate the size and shape of visibility regions in three dimensions. The resulting convex regions are exploited to generate trajectories that make a compromise between moving the manipulator base and moving the robotic arm. We also propose a practical method to approximate the visibility region in three dimensions of a sensor limited in both range and field of view. The quality and success of the generated paths depend significantly on the sensing robot capabilities. In this paper, we generate searching plans for a mobile manipulator equipped with a sensor limited in both field of view and range. We have implemented the algorithm and present simulation results.     

Robust visual tracking control system of a mobile robot based on a dual-Jacobian visual interaction model

This paper presents a novel design of a robust visual tracking control system, which consists of a visual tracking controller and a visual state estimator. This system facilitates human–robot interaction of a unicycle-modeled mobile robot equipped with a tilt camera. Based on a novel dual-Jacobian visual interaction model, a robust visual tracking controller is proposed to track a dynamic moving target. The proposed controller not only possesses some degree of robustness against the system model uncertainties, but also tracks the target without its 3D velocity information. The visual state estimator aims to estimate the optimal system state and target image velocity, which is used by the visual tracking controller. To achieve this, a self-tuning Kalman filter is proposed to estimate interesting parameters and to overcome the temporary occlusion problem. Furthermore, because the proposed method is fully working in the image space, the computational complexity and the sensor/camera modeling errors can be reduced. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, in terms of tracking performance, system convergence, and robustness.     

Decentralized Coordinated Tracking with Mixed Discrete–Continuous Decisions

In this paper, we study the problem of dynamically positioning a team of mobile robots for target tracking. We treat the coordination of mobile robots for target tracking as a joint team optimization to minimize uncertainty in target state estimates over a fixed horizon. The optimization is inherently a function of both the positioning of robots in continuous space and the assignment of robots to targets in discrete space. Thus, the robot team must make decisions over discrete and continuous variables. In contrast to methods that decouple target assignments and robot positioning, our approach avoids the strong assumption that a robot's utility for observing a target is independent of other robots’ observations. We formulate the optimization as a mixed integer nonlinear program and apply integer relaxation to develop an approximate solution in decentralized form. We demonstrate our coordinated multirobot tracking algorithm both in simulation and using a pair of mobile robotic sensor platforms to track moving pedestrians. Our results show that coupling target assignment and robot positioning realizes coordinated behaviors that are not possible with decoupled methods.     

Heterogeneous multisensor fusion for mapping dynamic environments

In this paper, we propose a heterogeneous multisensor fusion algorithm for mapping in dynamic environments. The algorithm synergistically integrates the information obtained from an uncalibrated camera and sonar sensors to facilitate mapping and tracking. The sonar data is mainly used to build a weighted line-based map via the fuzzy clustering technique. The line weight, with confidence corresponding to the moving object, is determined by both sonar and vision data. The motion tracking is primarily accomplished by vision data using particle filtering and the sonar vectors originated from moving objects are used to modulate the sample weighting. A fuzzy system is implemented to fuse the two sensor data features. Additionally, in order to build a consistent global map and maintain reliable tracking of moving objects, the well-known extended Kalman filter is applied to estimate the states of robot pose and map features. Thus, more robust performance in mapping as well as tracking are achieved. The empirical results carried out on the Pioneer 2DX mobile robot demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms the methods a using homogeneous sensor, in mapping as well as tracking behaviors.     

Selecting Landmarks for Localization in Natural Terrain

We describe techniques to optimally select landmarks for performing mobile robot localization by matching terrain maps. The method is based upon a maximum-likelihood robot localization algorithm that efficiently searches the space of possible robot positions. We use a sensor error model to estimate a probability distribution over the terrain expected to be seen from the current robot position. The estimated distribution is compared to a previously generated map of the terrain and the optimal landmark is selected by minimizing the predicted uncertainty in the localization. This approach has been applied to the generation of a sensor uncertainty field that can be used to plan a robot's movements. Experiments indicate that landmark selection improves not only the localization uncertainty, but also the likelihood of success. Examples of landmark selection are given using real and synthetic data.     

基于Kullback-Leibler分歧的变分滤波WSNs贝叶斯移动定位跟踪西

为了在降低资源能耗和带宽占用情况下,提高无线传感器网络WSNs移动目标定位跟踪的精度,提出了基于Kullback-Leibler分歧的变分滤波的WSNs贝叶斯移动目标定位跟踪算法。首先,利用高斯和Wishart分布在不考虑速度限制和方向移动限制情况下,构建WSNs移动定位的贝叶斯状态演化模型,并基于路径损耗模型构建移动目标定位的观测模型;其次,利用Kullback-Leibler分歧构建变分滤波的误差计算模型,通过周围激活节点实现移动节点目标的位置估计,设计了递归概率计算过程综合预测和更新两个过程,并实现了定位和目标跟踪的同步化;最后,通过仿真验证了所提模型在跟踪精度和资源节约上的优势。     

A Smooth Path Tracking Algorithm for Wheeled Mobile Robots with Dynamic Constraints

In order to avoid wheel slippage or mechanical damage during the mobile robot navigation, it is necessary tosmoothly change driving velocity or direction of the mobile robot. This means that dynamic constraints of the mobile robotshould be considered in the design of path tracking algorithm. In the study, a path tracking problem is formulated asfollowing a virtual target vehicle which is assumed to move exactly along the path with specified velocity. The drivingvelocity control law is designed basing on bang-bang control considering the acceleration bounds of driving wheels. Thesteering control law is designed by combining the bang-bang control with an intermediate path called the landing curve whichguides the robot to smoothly land on the virtual target's tangential line. The curvature and convergence analyses providesufficient stability conditions for the proposed path tracking controller. A series of path tracking simulations and experimentsconducted for a two-wheel driven mobile robot show the validity of the proposed algorithm.     

Velocity planning for a mobile robot to track a moving target — a potential field approach

Potential field method has been widely used for mobile robot path planning, but mostly in a static environment where the target and the obstacles are stationary. The path planning result is normally the direction of the robot motion. In this paper, the potential field method is applied for both path and speed planning, or the velocity planning, for a mobile robot in a dynamic environment where the target and the obstacles are moving. The robot’s planned velocity is determined by relative velocities as well as relative positions among robot, obstacles and targets. The implementation factors such as maximum linear and angular speed of the robot are also considered. The proposed approach guarantees that the robot tracks the moving target while avoiding moving obstacles. Simulation studies are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Design and implementation of vision-based transport for a mobile robot via Kalman filter

A vision-based scheme for object recognition and transport with a mobile robot is proposed in this paper. First, camera calibration is experimentally performed with Zhenyou Zhang’s method, and a distance measurement method with the monocular camera is presented and tested. Second, Kalman filtering algorithm is used to predict the movement of a target with HSI model as the input and the seed filling algorithm as the image segmentation approach. Finally, the motion control of the pan-tilt camera and mobile robot is designed to fulfill the tracking and transport task. The experiment results demonstrate the robust object recognition and fast tracking capabilities of the proposed scheme.     

基于移动机器人机载视觉云台的有限时间目标跟踪控制

研究面向移动目标的移动机器人机载视觉云台跟踪控制系统.首先,对视觉云台跟踪控制系统进行数学建模;然后,为提高移动目标的跟踪快速性和精度,基于有限时间控制技术提出一种新的有限时间视觉跟踪控制算法.严格的理论分析证明即使系统存在外部干扰也可以在有限时间内跟踪上目标,即通过控制云台转动能够保持在机器人运动过程中移动目标始终在相机视觉中心.仿真结果表明,所提出的有限时间控制算法可以实现移动目标的有限时间跟踪.     

基于概率阈值通信感知的WSNs目标跟踪算法

针对移动Sink节点目标跟踪定位时间长,能耗大等问题,提出基于概率阈值通信感知的WSNs目标跟踪算法。采用离散数据传输方式,并定义目标信息传输概率阈值来确定是否将节点当前位置信息由传感器节点传输到Sink节点。若当前位置信息不传输到Sink节点中,则使用最近一次通报的目标位置信息进行目标定位。然后开启目标周围相关传感器节点来有效降低算法数据传输量,并保持足够的定位精度。仿真结果显示：该方法比预测跟踪算法降低数据传输量87%左右,比动态目标跟踪算法降低跟踪时间33.7%左右。     

Decision-aware data suppression in wireless sensor networks for target tracking applications

Target tracking applications of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) may provide a high performance only when a reliable collection of target positions from sensor nodes is ensured. The performance of target tracking in WSNs is affected by transmission delay, failure probability, and nodes energy depletion. These negative factors can be effectively mitigated by decreasing the amount of transmitted data. Thus, the minimization of data transfers from sensor nodes is an important research issue for the development of WSN-based target tracking applications. In this paper, a data suppression approach is proposed for target chasing in WSNs. The aim of the considered target chasing task is to catch a moving target by a mobile sink in the shortest time. According to the introduced approach, a sensor node sends actual target position to the mobile sink only if this information is expected to be useful for minimizing the time in which target will be caught by the sink. The presented method allows sensor nodes to evaluate the usefulness of sensor readings and select those readings that have to be reported to the sink. Experiments were performed in a simulation environment to compare effectiveness of the proposed approach against state-of-the-art methods. Results of the experiments show that the presented suppression method enables a substantial reduction in the amount of transmitted data with no significant negative effect on target chasing time.     

基于隐藏问题的汇聚节点移动策略

为研究传感器网络在敌对环境中的隐藏问题,防止恶意节点的跟踪和破坏,提出了一个移动汇聚节点的移动策略.对隐藏问题进行分析和建模,并对穿越行为进行定义.在此基础上,提出了一种基于局部贪婪算法的移动策略,使得汇聚节点通过这个策略收集数据时,区域中的静止节点发送消息的次数最少(包括中转的次数),以此来减少整个网络被发现的可能性.通过3种比较算法的仿真,表明了该移动策略的准确性和有效性.     

基于多行为的移动机器人路径规划

机器人由当前点向目标点运动的过程中,所处环境经常为动态变化且未知的,这使得传统的路径规划算法对于移动机器人避障过程很难建立精确的数学模型.为此,针对环境信息完全未知的情况,为移动机器人设计一种基于模糊控制思想的多行为局部路径规划方法.该方法通过对各种行为之间进行适时合理的切换,以保证机器人安全迅速地躲避静态和动态障碍物,并利用改进的人工势场法实现对变速目标点的追踪.对于模糊避障中常见的U型陷阱问题,提出一种边界追踪的陷阱逃脱策略,使得机器人成功解除死锁状态.另外,设计一个速度模糊控制器,实现了机器人的智能行驶.最后,基于Matlab平台的仿真结果验证了所提出算法的有效性和实时性,与A*势场法的对比结果更突出了该算法的可行性.     

Efficient autonomous global localization for service robots using dual laser scanners and rotational motion

This study presents an alternative global localization scheme that uses dual laser scanners and the pure rotational motion of a mobile robot. The proposed method extracts the initial state of the robot’s surroundings to select robot pose candidates, and determines the sample distribution based on the given area map. Localization success is determined by calculating the similarity of the robot’s sensor state compared to that which would be expected at the estimated pose on the given map. In both simulations and experiments, the proposed method shows sufficient efficiency and speed to be considered robust to real-world conditions and applications.

     

Robust mobile robot localization in highly non-static environments

In this paper, we propose a robust pose tracking method for mobile robot localization with an incomplete map in a highly non-static environment. This algorithm will work with a simple map that does not include complete information about the non-static environment. With only an initial incomplete map, a mobile robot cannot estimate its pose because of the inconsistency between the real observations from the environment and the predicted observations on the incomplete map. The proposed localization algorithm uses the approach of sampling from a non-corrupted window, which allows the mobile robot to estimate its pose more robustly in a non-static environment even when subjected to severe corruption of observations. The algorithm sequence involves identifying the corruption by comparing the real observations with the corresponding predicted observations of all particles, sampling particles from a non-corrupted window that consists of multiple non-corrupted sets, and filtering sensor measurements to provide weights to particles in the corrupted sets. After localization, the estimated path may still contain some errors due to long-term corruption. These errors can be corrected using nonlinear constrained least-squares optimization. The incomplete map is then updated using both the corrected path and the stored sensor information. The performance of the proposed algorithm was verified via simulations and experiments in various highly non-static environments. Our localization algorithm can increase the success rate of tracking its pose to more than 95% compared to estimates made without its use. After that, the initial incomplete map is updated based on the localization result.     

Real-Time Dynamic Visual Tracking Using PSD Sensors and Extended Trapezoidal Motion Planning

A real-time visual servo tracking system for an industrial robot has been implemented using PSD (Position Sensitive Detector) cameras, neural networks, and an extended trapezoidal motion planning method. PSD and directly transduces the light's projected position on its sensor plane into an analog current and lends itself to fast real-time tracking. A neural network, after proper training, transforms the PSD sensor reading into a 3D position of the target, which is then input to an extended trapezoidal motion planning algorithm. This algorithm implements a continuous motion update strategy in response to an ever-changing sensor information from the moving target, while greatly reducing the tracking delay. This planning method is found to be very useful for sensor-based control such as moving target tracking or weld-seam tracking in which the robot needs to change its motion in real time in response to incoming sensor information. Further, for real-time usage of the neural net, a new architecture called LANN (Locally Activated Neural Network) has been developed based on the concept of CMAC input partitioning and local learning. Experimental evidence shows that an industrial robot can smoothly track a moving target of unknown motion with speeds of up to 1 m/s and with oscillation frequency up to 5 Hz.     

基于扩展Kalman滤波的空基多平台多传感器数据配准和目标跟踪算法

本文研究基于扩展Kalman滤波和多个空中移动平台的多传感器数据配准与目标跟踪问题.文中首先给出了空中移动平台传感器数据配准几何坐标转换算法;接着将目标运动模型和传感器配准误差模型组合在同一个状态方程中,然后利用扩展Kalman滤波方程进行估计.Monte-Carlo仿真表明,该方法能同时有效地估计目标运动状态和传感器配准误差.     

空基多平台多传感器时间空间数据配准与目标跟踪

研究多个空中移动平台的时间空间数据配准与目标跟踪问题.首先给出空中移动平台传感器数据空间配准几何坐标转换算法;然后采用最小二乘法对多传感器异步测量数据进行时间配准;最后将目标的运动模型和传感器配准误差模型组合在同一个状态方程中,利用扩展Kalman滤波方程进行估计.Monte-Carlo仿真表明,该方法能同时有效地估计目标运动状态和传感器配准误差,比传统配准方法具有更快的收敛速度和更高的精度.