Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Software => Software => Topic started by: cloud on December 19, 2008, 09:07:35 AM

Title: FireFighter Robot Algorithm
Post by: cloud on December 19, 2008, 09:07:35 AM

Hi! I'm newbie here. I'm a first year student in a university, and my lecturer gave me a homework. It's to find algorithm for a fire-fighter robot, but I just can't get it at all. ???

Please help me!! ;) :) Even a flowchart is fine. ;)

Title: Re: FireFighter Robot Algorithm
Post by: cosminprund on December 19, 2008, 09:33:41 AM

You need to be allot more specific!
What exactly do you control on that robot? How exactly does it do things? It has wheels? It has legs? How many legs? Does it have an arm?

Example of algorithm for an "robot" that's actually used in practice all over the world :) : When the rate of temperature raise exceeds a given constant sound the alarm  ;D - I've heard it's actually very effective!

Title: Re: FireFighter Robot Algorithm
Post by: cloud on December 23, 2008, 03:05:31 AM

Thanks for your reply! :D
well, what I want is a robot that can act like a fire-fighter. It could detect a fire and extinguishes it, save the doll that's trapped there, and then return to its start-point. :D
I don't really care about the physical shape. ;)

Please help me!! I have to submit my homework next week!! Even a flowchart is fine:-[

Title: Re: FireFighter Robot Algorithm
Post by: cosminprund on December 23, 2008, 03:29:18 PM

You're asking too much. Even if you've asked for a simple light tracking robot (the photovore) I would have asked about the "shape" because it matters. This is not going to be an single algorithm but a bunch of specific algorithms with an expert system overseeing everything. Here are some pointers:

Your robot runs on wheels? => You'll have an algorithm for controlling speed and direction.
Your robot has legs? => You'll have an algorithm for walking (something called an GAIT). This stuff is difficult.
Your robot has an arm so it can put the fire out? => You'll need to do Inverse Kinematics, lots of fun, lots of math (hope I'll do that some day).
Your robot needs to identify the "doll"? => Unless you expect the doll to be marked with some kind of special marker you'll need to do Computer Vision. That's very difficult. In my opinion the technology to identify ANY doll in ANY environment doesn't exist yet! Be the first to create this algorithm and you'll become super-rich and get a Nobel price!

Add everyting together and you've got a challenge. When does it need to be done?  ::)