Networked Telerobots

Abstract

Telerobots, remotely controlled robots, are widely used to explore undersea terrains and outer space, to defuse bombs, and to clean up hazardous waste. Until 1994, telerobots were accessible only to trained and trusted experts through dedicated communication channels. This chapter describes networked telerobots, a new class of telerobots controllable over networks such as the Internet, that are accessible to the general public. This chapter will describe relevant network technology, the history of networked telerobots within the broader field of teleoperation, properties of networked telerobots, how to build a networked robot, example systems, and topics for future research.