One of the major challenges of technology is to increase the ability to understand the environment around the robot. Especially in front of the robot, smoke, rain or any other natural barrier cannot work properly. Now researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have created a breakthrough technology that gives the robot a 'super human vision' through radio waves and can continue to work in smoke or bad weather. That is, this robot surpassed human eyesight.
Usually camera or lider sensors are used on robots. This Alonarvar Vision System is not very effective in bad weather. These technologies do not work as a dense fog or smoke.
However, scientists were inspired by nature. Not all animals are dependent on light for viewing. Bats use the echoes of their words to create the whole image of the surrounding environment in the brain, and sharks can identify the victim by feeling electric field changes. Inspired by this animal world, scientists have now created a technology that can give the robot super human vision.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have created a new technology called 'Panorader' that creates a three -dimensional (3D) scene for the robot with radio waves. This technology will help the robot to work in fog, smoke or any other difficult environment. Where ordinary camera or lider cannot work. The long wavelength of the radio wave works as a robot's eyes in this situation, which is impossible for ordinary eyes like humans.
“We wanted to combine the power of radio waves and high resolutions of the visual sensor, so that an effective and powerful system could work in the hostile environment as well,” said Mingmin Zhao, an assistant professor of computer science and a member of the research.
The use of radio waves is nothing new. Radar systems have been used to monitor aircraft, ships and weather for many years. However, Professor Zhao and his students have taken it further. Their robot spinning antenna spreads radio waves at 4 degrees, which creates a three -dimensional image from reflecting them, which will help the robot to properly monitor the situation even in smoke or rain.
“We want to create technology for robots that are able to see the restrictions of people's eyes or other sensors,” said Zhao. This technology can be particularly beneficial for future rescue robots. For example, rescue people from burnt buildings.
Another advantage of radio waves is that its wavelength is much larger than light, so it can flow through smoke or small particles. In this, the robot can create an environmental scene in a situation where the camera or leader cannot work.
However, Zhao mentions that this technology of radio waves has some limitations. For example, at the same time, Spinning Antenna cannot take pictures in the entire direction. However, it is a technology that can play an important role in the future automated vehicles and other robotic systems.
Even, the use of this technology is not limited to robotics. The police or the army can also be able to find hidden objects behind the wall with the help of radio waves.
This new technology can lead to a revolution in the robotics sector. However, it is important to be aware of its security and moral use.
References: BBC and Penn Today
