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A THREE-DIMENSIONAL MAPPING AND INSPECTION SYSTEM FOR INSIDE-TANK ROBOTICS APPLICATIONS

Award Information
Agency: Department of Energy
Branch: N/A
Contract: N/A
Agency Tracking Number: 17567
Amount: $500,000.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 1993
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
1919 Green Rd Suite B-101
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Dr. Charles J. Jacobus
 () -
Business Contact
 Mrs. Heidi N. Jacobus
Phone: (313) 688-2567
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

MOBILE ROBOT SYSTEM NAVIGATION IS A DIFFICULT PROBLEM UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. OUTSIDE NAVIGATION USING COMPUTER VISION-BASED METHODS REQUIRES RECOGNITION OF VARIABLE TERRAIN FEATURES OR THE USE OF A RADIO LOCATION SYSTEM SUCH AS A GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM. INDOOR NAVIGATION IS TYPICALLY ACCOMPLISHED WITH A COMBINATION OF PROXIMITY SENSORS (USUALLY SONIC) AND ARTIFICIAL GUIDANCE TARGETS IMPLEMENTED INTO THE MACHINE'S ENVIRONMENT (BAR CODES, WIRES, OR RETROREFLECTIVE TARGETS). NAVIGATION INSIDE AN ALREADY MADE, POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONTAINMENT CHAMBER CANNOT BE READILY ACCOMPLISHED BY USING THESE APPROACHES. IN THIS PROJECT, THE PHASE I EFFORTS ADDRESS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A THREE-DIMENSIONAL MAPPING AND INSPECTION SUBSYSTEM OPERATIONAL IN SUCH ENVIRONMENTS, AND THE COUPLING OF THE SYSTEM TO AN "INSIDE-TANK" MOBILE ROBOTICS SYSTEM.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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