Intelligent sensor system and flexible gripper for security robots

Abstract

During the last years, mobile service robots more and more entered a new field of application: Security & surveillance. Mobile robots do not become tired or bored, are incorruptible and reliable and can be equipped with all kinds of sensors to detect hazards and intruders where humans can not. It adds that mobile robots can easily be replaced in case of damage or destruction and no one complains about it except the purchase department. However, known security robots are just passive alarm systems, which interact only with optical and acoustical signals with their environment. It might be necessary to take samples for further inspection, e.g. in case of chemical contamination or to pick up objects dropped to the ground. Further these robots could be able to enlarge their detection zone by distributing small intelligent sensor probes. This paper introduces an autonomous security robot with a flexible gripper to manipulate its environment. Further the concept of an intelligent sensor system will be described. This system consists of a number of probes that can be distributed in the environment by a special probe repository and the robots gripper. © 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.