Context classifier for service robots

Abstract

In this paper a context classifier for service robots is presented. Independently of the application, service robots need to have the notion of their context in order to behave appropriately. A context classification architecture that can be integrated in service robots reliability calculation is proposed. Sensorial information is used as input. This information is then fused (using Fuzzy Sets) in order to create a knowledge base that is used as an input to the classifier. The classification technique used is Bayes Networks, as the object of classification is partially observable, stochastic and has a sequential activity. Although the results presented refer to indoor/outdoor classification, the architecture is scalable in order to be used in much wider and detailed context classification. A community of service robots, contributing with their own contextual experience to dynamically improve the classification architecture, can use cloud-based technologies.