Name of Paper

Towards real autonomy


Author

Ian Kelly


Published

SPIE's International Technical Group Newsletter on Robotics and Machine Perception: Special Issue on Biologically-Inspired Robotics, Vol. 8, Issue 2. September 1999. pp 10-12.


Abstract

During the last two decades much research has been carried out into the design and control of so-called autonomous robots. However, most of these robots require intervention from humans in order to carry out their tasks; i.e. supplying energy, modifying the environment to suit the robots. For a robot to be truly autonomous it must be able to carry out its entire mission without human intervention. A few robots do currently achieve a high degree of autonomy by carrying enough fuel to complete their mission, or by using radiant energy, or though the use of opportunity battery charging, as well as controlling themselves. Even the simplest of animals exhibit a degree of self-sufficiency and independence which is immeasurably superior to that of the best of these robots.

This project represents an attempt to design and construct a robot system, with energetic and computational autonomy comparable to that of an animal system. In order to make the project a real technical challenge, we decided that the system would have to obtain its energy in the same way as most animals - by hunting and 'digesting' a mobile organic prey. The species chosen as the prey should be reasonably plentiful, relatively large, and not require rapid pursuit. Finally, it should be a pest species subject to aggressive control measures. All of the above criteria are met by the slugs found on agricultural land, especially Deroceras reticulatum. They are slow moving, plentiful, large, and destructive - UK farmers spend over $32m per annum on molluscicides and spreading them.


Electronic copy

Not available