How to build a robotic simulation to detect explosive material

[horse_rider]

Hi there

i have got the following project from my University, can i get help from this forum???


The purpose of this simulation would be the exposure of functionality of “Robots to detect the explosive material. It would cover the required Robot Model & Simulation to detect explosive material in any area, pick that material and destroy outside the range of danger. Robot Simulator will provide the benefits of searching, finding and detecting Explosive Material, to move that material from the fixed place towards some safe place, and on behalf of control room instruction, either to destroy it on the spot or to destroy it through some experts on some secure place.

SOFTWARE AND TOOLS

Microsoft .NET, Visual Studio, SQL Server, Java, MySQL, and MS robotic simulation 2008

[newInRobotics]

if You want to simulate actual recognition of explosive material, I am not aware of any simulation packages that would simulate chemistry, physics and robotics all at the same time. I think You would need to use different software suits to illustrate methods used to recognise differences between explosive and nonexplosive materials... I believe it has something to do with X-Ray and some sophisticated equipment (like in airports).

However, if You use a box (can be any shape) in simulation to represent explosive device (that is not really explosive) and Your robot has to find it and take it somewhere, all that can be done in MSRS 2008.

As You also want to create a model of Your robot (custom look and properties I assume) You will also need CAD software (such as SolidWorks). After You create in CAD, You'll have to create a mesh of that model and import it to MSRS. After that You can use .NET to define how Your robot will behave; Your simulation environment will have to be defined as well (also in code).

All in all, this is quite a big project to do.

Good luck

N.I.R.

[horse_rider]

Thank you very much for detailed reply

In fact i have posted here on the day when i received the project, now i have discussed it with my project instructor, he told me that you have to build only simulation of the robot, and show all the danger area, and the explosive material in a box shape. in simple words he told me that you have to build a video game, in which the actor will be your robot, and when you want to run the robot to detect the box (explosives) you will use two options, manual and automatic, in manual option you have to move the actor (robot) via keyboard or mouse, and detect that box, in auto mode the actor (robot) will look around itself for that box. he told me that you will ignore the design and model of the robot. and think about only simulation, the functionality of the robot and the under-laying architecture is not your concern.

now i have to give a SRS document which include the following sections.


1.   Scope (of the project)                            
2.   Functional Requirements Non Functional requirements         
3.   Use Case Diagram                         
4.   Usage Scenarios                        

can you help me in this regard.

[newInRobotics]

1.   Scope (of the project)

it is basically what You've posted before, just expressed in more formal language. You simply write a description of Your research and how far You will go into it. You have to define "inside the scope" and "outside the scope",
eg.: Inside the scope:

• AI using which robot will look for explosive devices (boxes)
• Control mechanism used to control robot remotely (by keyboard)
• Definition of virtual world robot is operating in
• etc.

Outside the scope:

• Simulated explosions
• Robot model itself (I suppose You should find/get one readymade for You)
• etc.

2.   Functional Requirements Non Functional requirements

These basically are requirements that has to be in place in order for Your robot to move and explore the world,
Functional:

• Ability to move
• Ability to grab an explosive device
• Ability to drop an explosive device
• etc.

Nonfunctional:

• To have surrounding virtual world
• To have bomb representations somewhere around
• To be linked to keyboard or AI mechanism
• etc.

3.   Use Case Diagram

That's a UML model. What You've put in words has to be reflected in this diagram. Use Case diagram is more or less related to Functional requirements as it describes in what ways robot can interact with surrounding world.

4.   Usage Scenarios

That's like game or movie scenario. You write what happens after what in order to reach final goal. Make sure You write two scenarios, one for automatic mode and one for manual control mode, although You can merge them together if You decide that robot does something on its own, blah blah blah, then human user takes over control, because robot is not capable to do something on its own or something towards these lines. Use Your imagination. Don't forget that Your scenario has to be directly related to Your simulation, hence all You write in scenario has to happen in simulation as well.

Good luck.

N.I.R.

[horse_rider]

Thanks A lot, in fact your reply helped me a lot making my first assignment, your post was written in very easy to understand words. i have done with the SRS with almost 70% Idea/help got from your post.

Thanks again

[newInRobotics]

No problems 

I am just about to graduate uni, hence have full head of theory, UML, how to write reports, etc 

Happy to help.

N.I.R.