Medellín, jul. 10 de 2012 - Agencia de Noticias UN- UN researchers are developing robots that could detect and follow-up on fires, oil spills and explosions in forests, oceans and nuclear plants.

Researchers at the Robotic Sensors Network (RSR, for its Spanish acronym) have been developing robots which would be able to help detect abnormalities in different scenarios, such as forest fires, oil spills, nuclear plant fires and dangerous marine algae growths, etc.  

Currently, the researchers have performed tests in controlled environments and are hoping to carry out further tests which will help them to refine their autonomous machines in order to perform on rougher terrain.   

“The idea is to have robots constantly monitoring the environment and detecting any physical changes. Once an unusual change has been encountered, they could then coordinate, identify and mark the periphery of the problem area. This robotics sensor network initiative is more cost effective and has advantages over other systems which use other types of sensors or video cameras”, says David Julián Saldaña Santacruz, of the Mining Faculty, and systems engineering master’s degree candidate.  

Normally robots have two primary capabilities, which are to perceive their environment with temperature and distance sensors in order to determine where they are, and what their status is. Then secondly, to take action with actuators, i.e. with objects like arms, or wheels which allow them to handle objects or move. “Therefore, from what they sense, humans can then take appropriate actions”, says Saldaña.    

These robots operate using networks built based on the Bayes’  Theorem, which has only recently been used in robotics. “The interesting thing about this technique is that the robot does not have everything defined. When I go out I’m not sure if it’s going to rain in a hour or not, but I can determine, given the climatic conditions, that it might rain within the hour. This is how these robots operate as well. If their temperature sensor is registering too much heat, it thinks there’s a fire, but is not sure, then its data is provided to other robots. Based on all the information gathered, they choose the best course of action to take”, says the researcher.  

Different kinds of robots roam the land in chosen environments. They communicate by means of radio signals with a technology known as ZigBee, which is a high level wireless communication protocol which allows transmission of up to one kilometer.  

“Robotics in Colombia is just getting off the ground, and my plan is to form a strong group in this field”, says Saldaña. Therefore anybody who’s interested in participating in this research may contact him at djsaldan@unal.edu.co. This project won a Research Directorate (DIME, for its Spanish acronym) summons.

(Por:Fin/dg/clc/fgd)

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