Developmnet of an Infrared Sensory System with Local Communication Facility for Collision Avoidance of Multiple Mobile Robots.

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a method for detecting both robots and obstacles using a local infrared communication system. If every robot in the environment has its own ID number and transmits it, then a robot can detect another robot by receiving the ID number. The robot can also detect an obstacle by receiving its own ID number which is reflected from the obstacle. We also propose a method for detecting interference in transmission when several robots transmit to one robot. Finally, we describe the development of a sensor system named LOCISS (locally communicable infrared sensory system) and fundamental experiments carried out to evaluate its performance.