Field Robotics

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Overview

Field robotics deals with the fundamentals and applications of mobile robots operating in unstructured and dynamic environments, where conditions cannot be controlled. Applications include, but are not limited to: precision agroforestry, construction, space exploration, and industrial inspection. Our research focuses on the development of novel algorithms for perception, planning and control of mobile robots (tracked, wheeled, legged), parameter modeling and system identification (e.g., slippage in tracked robots on slopes), as well as novel unconventional robot designs (e.g., roped-legged).

Prototyping and Development of Climbing Robots

In addition to theoretical research, our group is also involved in the prototyping and development of advanced robotic systems designed for a variety of applications. One of these projects is the creation of a climbing robot, Alpine, developed with the goal of reducing human presence in difficult or hazardous environments. By implementing advanced optimization systems, the robot is capable of avoiding obstacles and navigating complex environments in a semi-autonomous or fully autonomous manner. This system enables analysis, maintenance, and inspection operations in high-risk environments such as rock walls,is specifically designed to carry heavy tools, remain stationary without consuming energy, thereby minimizing direct human exposure to extreme conditions. The development of this prototype required the integration of multiple multidisciplinary skills, including:

Mechanical engineering: design and construction of the climbing robot structure, involving knowledge of pneumatics, applied physics, and 3D modeling.
Electronics and mechatronics: selection and integration of sensors and actuators necessary for the robot’s operation and stability.
Computer science and robotics: development of control and navigation software, including computer vision algorithms for environment recognition, surface classification, and foreign object detection, as well as optimization algorithms for path planning.
Supervision and remote control systems: development of a web application for real-time monitoring and remote operation of the robot, allowing operators to supervise tasks and intervene safely and efficiently.

The webpage of the WIKI of the project can be found here: https://github.com/alpine-robot.

The Climbing Robot Team

Michele Focchi - Professor
Ruben Malacarne - Student
Luca Hardonk - Student

Marco Camurri

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

I am Associate Professor at the Department of Industrial Engineering of the University of Trento. Previously, I was Associate Professor (RTD-A) at the Field Robotics South Tyrol (FiRST), working on autonomous mobile robot navigation in the field. From 2018 to 2022 I served as PDRA and Senior Researcher in robot navigation at the Dynamic Robot System lab of the Oxford Robotics Institute, University of Oxford, UK. From 2014 to 2018 I was member of the Dynamic Legged System (DLS) lab at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) in Genoa, Italy, where I received my PhD in Bioengineering and Robotics in 2017. I have received the B.Eng. and M.Eng. degrees in computer engineering from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy, in 2009 and 2012, respectively.

My research interests lie in all aspects of mobile robot autonomy in harsh environments, including but not limited to field robotics,
mobile robot perception, model predictive control, autonomous navigation, sensor fusion, and legged robotics.

Marco Camurri | IDRA Labs

Field Robotics

Overview

Prototyping and Development of Climbing Robots

The Climbing Robot Team

Marco Camurri