Microwave Foresight Sensing for Safety Compliance in Autonomous Operations

Abstract

Robotic platforms are highly programmable, scalable and versatile to complete several tasks including Inspection, Maintenance and Repair (IMR). Mobile robotics offer reduced restrictions in operating environments, resulting in greater flexibility; operation at height, dangerous areas and repetitive tasks. Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) allow for robotics and artificial intelligence to adapt and repurpose at pace, allowing for the addressment of new challenges in CPS. A challenge exists within robotics to secure an effective partnership in a wide range of areas which include shared workspaces and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS). Current sensing methods are limited to visual line of sight and are unable to capture data beyond doorways or walls, therefore, a robot is unable to sense if it is safe to open a door. In addition, if a robot could sense beyond a door then a robot could update safety precaution in advance of the mission e.g. when a human is about to enter a shared workspace. These challenges are represented as safety, trust and resilience which inhibits the persistent deployment of CPS. This paper evaluates the use of frequency modulated continuous wave radar sensing for through-door detection of metal, humans and infrastructure to increase situational awareness. The results validate the use of the sensor to detect an object BVOLS of a closed doorway where a methodology is presented for increased safety compliance for robots via foresight monitoring.6