Intuitive Visual Control Provides Faster Remote Operation of Robots

Using a novel method of integrating video technology and familiar control devices, a research team from Georgia Tech and the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is developing a technique to simplify remote control of robotic devices.The researchers' aim is to enhance a human operator's ability to perform precise tasks using a multi-jointed robotic device such as an articulated mechanical arm. The new approach has been shown to be easier and faster than older methods, especially when the robot is controlled by an operator who is watching it in a video monitor.

Known as Uncalibrated Visual Servoing for Intuitive Human Guidance of Robots, the new method uses a special implementation of an existing vision-guided control method called visual servoing (VS).2 axis Robot Arm System By applying visual-servoing technology in innovative ways, the researchers have constructed a robotic system that responds to human commands more directly and intuitively than older techniques.

"Our approach exploits 3-D video technology to let an operator guide a robotic device in ways that are more natural and time-saving, yet are still very precise,Robot systems" said Ai-Ping Hu, a GTRI senior research engineer who is leading the effort. "This capability could have numerous applications ¨C especially in situations where directly observing the robot's operation is hazardous or not possible ¨C including bomb disposal, handling of hazardous materials and search-and-rescue missions.China Packaging Robots"