ARL sponsors team demonstrating latest robotic technology
(left to right) Michael Scherer, David Adams, Jacob Carr, Jonathan Mohlenhoff, and Daniel Barber demonstrated their unmanned vehicle system called Automaton. The Simulation and Training Technology Center sponsored the team at a recent demonstration on the National Mall.
|
|
Story Highlights
- ARL's Simulation and Training Technology Center sponsored a team from the University of Central Florida to demonstrate the latest in robotic technology.
- Event provided the public with a glimpse of what is now considered state-of -the-art in robotics.
- Some of the technology included GPS, a compass, a camera, and LIDAR sensors to support waypoint navigation and lane following with obstacle avoidance.
The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Foundation recently held a robotics demonstration on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to coincide with the 2011 National Robotics Week.
In support of this event, the Simulation and Training Technology Center (STTC), an element of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) located in Orlando, Fla., sponsored Daniel Barber, team leader, and four University of Central Florida students from the robotics club with their platform called Automaton.
"The goal of the event was to bring awareness to the general public, congress and others as to what is now considered the state-of-the-art in robotics and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) efforts," said Neal Finkelstein, branch chief for blended simulation research with STTC.
An obstacle course was setup directly in front of the Capitol on the National Mall showing visitors robots navigating autonomously that were built by students.
Automaton incorporated Global Positioning System (GPS), a compass, a camera, and Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) sensors to support waypoint navigation and lane following with obstacle avoidance.
"This was a fantastic opportunity showcasing efforts sponsored by ARL in collaboration with the University of Central Florida," said Irwin Hudson, a science and technology manager with STTC. "The feedback received from the general public was overwhelmingly positive, and I believe it really got the message out about intelligent systems and robotics to a new audience."