Effects of visual information on a remote-controlled mobile robot

ABSTRACT

To efficiently perform work using a remote-controlled robot, an image display device that allows the operator to verify the working area from a single view is necessary. Furthermore, this device should provide high-resolution images of locations so that the operator can recognize depths in detail. To meet these requirements, conventional three-dimensional image devices used multiple cameras and display screens for the right and left eye. In this study, we developed a video device that employs a camera and a display, which records a wide range while providing high resolution for the central part of the images using a mirror. The effectiveness of our device was confirmed through an evaluation experiment using a remote-controlled work robot. The results indicated that using the transmitted complex display, the operator can utilize high-precision space information and respond to a wide range of changes in the surrounding environment. It was thus confirmed that the remote-controlled operation could be conducted with improved accuracy and in a shorter time.

References

1. M. Minamoto, T. Tanaka, Y. Sakai, Y. Konomi, K. Chayama, K. Matsunaga 1999: "Development of a portable tele-operated robot for the manipulation of a backhoe shovel for the restoration of disaster stricken sites", Proc. Of International Symposium of the International Society for Optical Engineering, Vol.3840, Pp.125--132.
2. M. Minamoto, K. Matsunaga, M. Sinozaki, H. Kawasaki, K. Yosinaga 2002: "Development of remote controlled robot for construction machine", TVRSJ Vol.7, No.1.
3. K. Matsunaga, M. Minamoto, Y. Nose, K. Shidoji, K. Ebuchi, D. Itoh, T. Inoue, T. Hayami, Y. Matsuki, Y. Arikawa, K. Matsubara 1998: "A new stereoscopic video and monitor system with central high resolution", Proc. Of International Symposium of the International Society for Optical Engineering, Vol. 3295, Pp.164--170.
4. M. Minamoto, K. Matsunaga 1998: "Tele-presence information of remote-controlled task execution", Proc. Of IEEE/RSJ International conference of Intelligent Robots and Systems(98CH36190), Pp. 1102--1106.
5. M. Minamoto, K. Matsunaga 1999: "Evaluation of stereoscopic video cameras synchronized with the movement of an operator's head on the tele-operation of the actual backhoe shovel", Proc. Of International Symposium of the International Society for Optical Engineering, Vol.3639, Pp44--49.
6. K. Shidoji, K. Matsunaga, M. Minamoto, Y. Nose, K. Ebuchi, Y. Matsuki 2000: "Visual interface for remote control", Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics, Vol.12, No.1, pp.40--46.
7. M. Minamoto, K. Chayama, H. Yamamoto, K. Matsunaga, 2011: "Effects of Visual Information on a Remote-Controlled Robot", Proc. Of International Conference on Virtual-Reality Continuum and its Applications in Industry (VRCAI), Pp 335--338, 2011.

Index Terms

• Computer systems organization

  • Embedded and cyber-physical systems

    • Robotics

• Computing methodologies

  • Artificial intelligence

    • Control methods

      • Robotic planning

    • Planning and scheduling

      • Robotic planning

  • Computer graphics

    • Graphics systems and interfaces

      • Virtual reality

• Human-centered computing

  • Human computer interaction (HCI)

    • Interaction paradigms

      • Mixed / augmented reality

      • Virtual reality