Mike Kassam
Consumer Products/Applications
As a result of continued improvements in electronic technology, new robots with human-like abilities are being designed all over the world. One of the human senses that would be useful to incorporate in a robot is a sense of smell to allow a mobile robot to be used for locating leaking source of dangerous gases. With the advances in "smart" gas sensing technologies, it may be possible to deploy multiple gas sensors strategically positioned on an x-y plane with a simple rotating mechanism to directionally "draw in" air/gas. In conjunction with an appropriate algorithm(s) to reliably monitor relative concentrations of the leaking gas, it may be possible to achieve a directional semi-autonomous control of the mobile robot to zero in, and track, an odor or gas trail. Such a robot (that could be used by Police or Firefighter) may have cameras mounted on it for wireless remote control (via a handheld remote or a Phone App.) for a user to remotely maneuver the robot to a general proximity of the hazardous gas-leak location, and then have the robot autonomously track the exact location of the invisible leaking gas source. OBJECTIVE
(a) Using the commercial gas sensors, develop and test a "smart" scheme to track an odor or gas-density trail; and (b) design a simple semi-autonomous mobile robot with differential wheel tracking, cameras and collision-avoidance techniques to incorporate remote control and autonomous tracking of a gas-leak source using a "sniffing" approach. In keeping with good engineering practice, at least two alternate designs (approaches) should be investigated from which the best design approach can be rationalized by the EDP Group for eventual implementation.
• For the design and development of this concept prototype, you must not use any hazardous gas source. An aerosol type compressed carbon-dioxide gas (or some other non-hazardous gas source) should be used with matching choice of gas sensor technology.
• A basic electro-mechanical contraption (with help of 360 degree rotation of the robot platform) is needed to "draw-in" the air mixture over the gas-sensor so as to achieve directional and spatial sensing and tracking of the gas source.
• a circular (wood platform) may be used for the robot design to facilitate easy of maneuvering around objects and collision avoidance. You may use two motorized and controllable bidirectional fixed wheels at the back, and a rotating wheel in the front for optimal motion flexibility.
• Remote control of the robot and any data transfer via a wireless link (Bluetooth, Wifi or RF). Remote control can be a dedicated joystick based unit or using a mobile phone with your own App. At the very least, the remote control and collision avoidance should facilitate left/right/forward/backward motion control; start-stop control; camera views; etc.
• Deploy integrated camera(s) and LED lights on the robot to make it easier for a User to remotely navigate the robot around obstacles.
• Within the "last meter" of the potential gas source, the User should be able to trigger the robot to autonomously determine the precise location of the gas leak source and closely zero-in.
• For electronics interfaces and controls, consider use of low power electronics devices and low-cost battery operated PIC type microcontrollers for signal
processing and control of mobile robot.
• build and demonstrate a working prototype mobile robot that automatically
follows the trail of an odor.
• Investigate and implement wireless data transfer technology.
• Develop appropriate GUI for laptop and/or Smartphone/Tablet devices.
• Optionally, investigate use of electronic “compass” and/or GPS technologies to alternatively track the general location of the robot.
• Research effectiveness of integrated gas sensing technologies to understand potential design issues and challenges of deploying gas sensing. Acquire a commercial gas sensor appropriate for reliable sensing of non-hazardous gas for this project. Analyze the sensor interfacing requirements, and the conceptualize potential algorithms and techniques to reliably track leaking-gas trail
• Research and design a simple mobile robot and simple PWM techniques for digital control of the motor speed/direction.
• Research and understand the use of standards-based wireless communication (Bluetooth, Wifi, RF) for remote control of the robot.
• Design and implement the various sub-systems individually (e.g. sensor interface, sensor algorithms, mobile robot control, remote controller, camera, wireless connections, etc.)
• Investigate, and use, the tools for development of smartphone App for remote control of the robot.
• Methodically integrate the sub-systems; develop realistic tests/exoeriments for performance validation.
(1) research the background material for the underlying technologies; (2) development of the technical specifications, at least two system level design alternatives, identifying technical challenges and associated design strategies, and then selecting the best design alternative; (2) meeting the technical objectives, (3) seamless integration of the system, (4) design, implementation and testing of the system, and (5) preparing the final technical report.
While coming up with alternative designs and then selecting the best design to implement will be the shared responsibility of the entire Group, the experiential learning and engagement may be best optimized by having Student A and Student B mainly focus on one design approach, whereas Student C and Student D on an alternate design. t is understood that there would be common design elements among the alternative design approaches.
Additional responsibilities to be determined with the FLC after this topic is assigned.
While coming up with alternative designs and then selecting the best design to implement will be the shared responsibility of the entire Group, the experiential learning and engagement may be best optimized by having Student A and Student B mainly focus on one design approach, whereas Student C and Student D on an alternate design. It is understood that there would be common design elements among the alternative design approaches.
Additional responsibilities to be determined with the FLC after this topic is assigned.
While coming up with alternative designs and then selecting the best design to implement will be the shared responsibility of the entire Group, the experiential learning and engagement may be best optimized by having Student A and Student B mainly focus on one design approach, whereas Student C and Student D on an alternate design. It is understood that there would be common design elements among the alternative design approaches.
Additional responsibilities to be determined with the FLC after this topic is assigned.
While coming up with alternative designs and then selecting the best design to implement will be the shared responsibility of the entire Group, the experiential learning and engagement may be best optimized by having Student A and Student B mainly focus on one design approach, whereas Student C and Student D on an alternate design. It is understood that there would be common design elements among the alternative design approaches.
Additional responsibilities to be determined with the FLC after this topic is assigned.
MK02: Semi-autonomous SNIFFING Robot for locating Gas Leak | Mike Kassam | Thursday September 8th 2022 at 02:05 PM