Robots are part of big thinking at USU
The Center For Self-Organizing and Intelligent Systems (CSOIS) makes machines that think for themselves.
The security guard looked at his watch. It was time to make the rounds again. He moved his mouse and clicked a command on his computer screen, deploying the team of scanning robots into the parking lot.
They reported one vehicle looked suspicious, so ODIS (Omni-Directional Inspection System) was deployed. The search came back negative, and the security guard completed his cross-word.
Such a scenario is possible in the near future due to efforts by the CSOIS at Utah State University, said Shayne Rich, project manager.
The main project for CSOIS is their ODIS and “T” series – which they are working on for the U.S. Army-Tank Automotive Command Intelligent Mobility program. They’re hoping this project will lead to new autonomous security systems for parking lots, said Kevin Moore, director of CSOIS.
Technology, like this could have been useful with this weeks events, Moore said. Hill Air Force Base was using mirrors to search under vehicles, but these robots would be able to do that for them.
“I see an increased interest in autonomous technology for security after New York,” Moore said.
The purpose of making autonomous robots is two-fold, Rich said. They can replace humans in monotonous tasks and in dangerous situations.
The center’s goals are at two levels, Moore said. They would first like to see existing projects used commercially, which would provide funding for more projects. Second, they would eventually like to create machines that would operate entirely on their own.
“Nobody can really do it yet,” Moore said. “The real challenge is getting these to do things for themselves.”
CSOIS was originally founded in 1992 by Bob Gunderson with a grant from the State of Utah’s Center of Excellence Program, Moore said. Their task was to work on projects that could eventually be used in the commercial sector.
The center combines the knowledge of three departments: Electrical and computer engineering, mechanical and aerospace engineering and computer science, Moore said.
“I like the variety,” Rich said, about his work.
The center’s focus is on the “design, development and implementation of intelligent autonomous mechatronic systems,” Moore said.
Their main areas of research include making machines autonomous, improving movement technology and developing sensors. They have developed omni-directional “smart wheels” that move independently of each other, laser sensors, their own computer code and specialized cameras, Rich said.
An operator of ODIS uses virtual-reality equipment to move the cameras and look around as the machine does its work, he said.
The center is currently working on other projects that involve boundary control for iron furnaces, optimal packaging of boxes for companies who need to ship different-sized packages and other legged robots.
Previously, CSOIS has worked on projects for the Idaho Nuclear and Environmental Engineering Laboratories and John Deere to make specialized research vehicles and autonomous tractors respectively, Rich said.
In the future, Moore said they are looking at applying their omni-directional wheels to other machines, such as the scissor lifts used for high ceilings.
“It’s difficult to line them up perfectly, and with smart wheels, the operator could use a joystick to align themselves,” Moore said.
Although most of the benefit will go to those who fund the projects, the university will gain in knowledge discovered from projects written in scholarly papers and not necessarily put into the robots, Moore said.
This is the last year for the Army contract, but the center expects to renew that and is looking for additional projects, he said.