Advanced Robotics and Intelligent Machines

by J.O. Gray, D.G. Caldwell

Overview

The term 'advanced robotics' came in the 1980s to describe the application of advanced sensors and new developments in cognitive science and artificial intelligence to the traditional robot. Today, advanced robots have come far beyond the limitations of the crude 'pick-and-place' machines of the 1980s assembly line, and have a vast range of applications in manufacturing, construction and health care, as well as hostile environments such as space, underwater and nuclear applications.

This book provides an essential overview of developments in the basic technologies, looking at recent applications and highlighting a number of advanced concepts and procedures that may influence future developments. The emphasis is on developments in Europe, although the book is also relevant to activities in the USA, Japan and elsewhere. With such a wide and dynamic field, it does not attempt to provide a comprehensive guide; rather, it addresses many key elements of the technology to furnish a complete introduction for both postgraduate students and practising engineers attracted to the challenges of the domain.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780852968536
Publisher:	The Institution of Engineering and Technology
Publication date:	06/30/1996
Series:	Control, Robotics and Sensors
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x (d)

About the Author

John Gray is Professor of Control and Systems Engineering, Chairman of the Department of Electronic Engineering and Director of the Telford Research Institute at the Universityof Salford. In 1986 he took part in forming a five-year research programme on advanced robotics, in association with 12 industrial partners who collaborated in the government-sponsored National Advanced Robotics Research Centre (ARRC) at Salford. He served as Research Director of the ARRC, chaired its technical committee and was the main board member of its industrial consortium, Advanced Robotics Research Ltd. He is a member of the permanent international committee of the International Conference on Advanced Robotics and a Fellow of the IEE.

Darwin Caldwell is a Lecturer in Advanced Robotics at the Universityof Salford. His research interests cover all aspects of robotics, with particular emphasis on dextronus manipulator design, multi-functional tactile sensing and feedback and novel actuator design, with primary applications in the field of tele-presence. He has authored over 50 publications and is an Associate Member of the IEE.

Table of Contents

• Section 1: Technologies for advanced robotics
• Chapter 1: Recent developments in advanced robotics & intelligent systems
• Chapter 2: Machine intelligence: architectures, controllers and applications
• Chapter 3: Advanced control systems for robotic arms
• Chapter 4: Intelligent gripping systems
• Chapter 5: Force feedback control in robots and its application to decommissioning
• Chapter 6: Tele-presence control of robots
• Chapter 7: Sensing and sensor management for planning
• Section 2: Applications
• Chapter 8: Robotics in the nuclear industry
• Chapter 9: Robots in surgery: a survey
• Chapter 10: Intelligent autonomous systems for cars
• Chapter 11: Walking machine technology: designing the control system of an advanced six-legged machine
• Chapter 12: Handling of flexible materials in automation
• Chapter 13: Robotics in food manufacturing
• Chapter 14: Robotic milking
• Section 3: Advanced concepts and procedures
• Chapter 15: Intelligent sensing as a means to error free semiconductor wafer handling
• Chapter 16: The concept of robot society and its utilisation in future robotics
• Chapter 17: Miniature and micro robotics: technologies and applications
• Chapter 18: Characteristics of robot behaviour
• Chapter 19: A behaviour synthesis architecture for co-operant mobile robots
• Chapter 20: Co-operant behaviour in multiple manipulators
• Chapter 21: Neural networks in automation procedures
• Chapter 22: Parallel processing, neural networks and genetic algorithms for real-time robot control

Editorial Reviews

Providing an introduction for postgraduate students and practicing engineers, this volume is divided into three sections. The first seven chapters cover technologies for advanced robotics from recent developments to intelligent gripping systems and sensing and sensor management for planning. The next eight chapters cover such topics as robotics in the nuclear industry, medicine, cars, food manufacturing, and others matters. The final seven chapters address more advanced concepts and procedures, from the concept of robot society to parallel processing, neural networks, and genetic algorithms for real-time robot control. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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