Research Issues
3D SLAM
The simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) problem is for a mobile robot to concurrently estimate both a map of its environment and its pose with respect to the map. The main goal of this research is to use visual information and scanning laser range finder for 3D mapping of the environment. We are performing experiments with TateRob.
Brain Machine Interface
The goal of this group research project (Prof. Kawahara, Prof. Sasaki) is to create a part mechanical, part biological robot that operates on the basis of the neural activity of rat brain cells. In the initial phase of this work, the rat has to learn to move the robot by pressing the right and left lever in order to get food. Latter, the neural signals will be analyzed by a computer that looks for patterns emitted by the brain cells and then translates those patterns into robotic movement. Therefore, the rats have to learn that they could obtain food through brain activity alone and stop pressing the lever.
Multi-robot systems
Instead of building one, extremely complicated and intelligent robot we are programming groups of simple robots which can follow simple rules to work together and solve more complex problems. Their design and programming is inspired by real biological systems, which allows simple, autonomous individuals to develop strategies to get out of problems and cooperate with each other.
Intelligent robot eye system
The goal of this research is to apply intelligent algorithms such as neural networks, genetic algorithms for:
Object tracking
Object recognition
Template matching
