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This chapter discusses robotics technology for space missions. First, a general definition of a robot and an overview of the historical development of space robots are provided. Then technical details of orbital space robots, planetary robots, and telerobotics are given in the subsequent sections.

© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019. This chapter presents a simulator for disaster response robots based on the Choreonoid framework. Two physics engines and a graphics engine were developed and integrated into the framework. One physics engine enables robust contact-force computation among rigid bodies based on volumetric intersection and a relaxed constraint, whereas the other enables accurate and computationally efficient computation of machine–terrain interaction mechanics based on macro and microscopic approaches. The graphics engine allows simulating natural phenomena, such as rain, fire, and smoke, based on a particle system to resemble tough scenarios at disaster sites. In addition, wide-angle vision sensors, such as omnidirectional cameras and LIDAR sensors, can be simulated using multiple rendering screens. Overall, the simulator provides a tool for the efficient and safe development of disaster response robots.

This chapter presents a simulator for disaster response robots based on the Choreonoid framework. Two physics engines and a graphics engine were developed and integrated into the framework. One physics engine enables robust contact-force computation among rigid bodies based on volumetric intersection and a relaxed constraint, whereas the other enables accurate and computationally efficient computation of machine–terrain interaction mechanics based on macro and microscopic approaches. The graphics engine allows simulating natural phenomena, such as rain, fire, and smoke, based on a particle system to resemble tough scenarios at disaster sites. In addition, wide-angle vision sensors, such as omnidirectional cameras and LIDAR sensors, can be simulated using multiple rendering screens. Overall, the simulator provides a tool for the efficient and safe development of disaster response robots.

In Japan, the amount of agricultural production decreases year-by-year. Moreover, reduction in agricultural work population and increase of abandonment of cultivated land are major social issues. To overcome these issues, we have proposed a small agricultural robot “MY DONKEY®” which supports transportation of harvested crops and records the farm work of the user and crop yield in field map while moving closer to the user. In order to move in the furrowed field, it is necessary to detect ridges and furrows where the robot can move using robot-mounted sensors and follow the ridge while avoiding the ridges and crop rows. Furthermore, to realize smooth harvesting support, we propose a ridge-tracking control according to user’s behavior based on the recognition of the work contents of the user such as harvesting, loading of harvested crops to the robot, transportation, and movement. We propose the ridge-tracking control framework based on fuzzy set theory which can evaluate and integrate multiple situations and carry out experiments in strawberry farm.

In Japan, the amount of agricultural production decreases year-by-year. Moreover, reduction in agricultural work population and increase of abandonment of cultivated land are major social issues. To overcome these issues, we have proposed a small agricultural robot “MY DONKEY®” which supports transportation of harvested crops and records the farm work of the user and crop yield in field map while moving closer to the user. In order to move in the furrowed field, it is necessary to detect ridges and furrows where the robot can move using robot-mounted sensors and follow the ridge while avoiding the ridges and crop rows. Furthermore, to realize smooth harvesting support, we propose a ridge-tracking control according to user’s behavior based on the recognition of the work contents of the user such as harvesting, loading of harvested crops to the robot, transportation, and movement. We propose the ridge-tracking control framework based on fuzzy set theory which can evaluate and integrate multiple situations and carry out experiments in strawberry farm.

In this chapter, we introduce modeling and control for wheeled mobile robots and tracked vehicles. The target environment is rough terrains, which includes both deformable soil and heaps of rubble. Therefore, the topics are roughly divided into two categories, wheeled robots on deformable soil and tracked vehicles on heaps of rubble. After providing an overview of this area in Sect. 50.1, a modeling method of wheeled robots on a deformable terrain is introduced in Sect. 50.2. It is based on terramechanics, which is the study focusing on the mechanical properties of natural rough terrain and its response to off-road vehicle, specifically the interaction between wheel/track and soil. In Sect. 50.3, the control of wheeled robots is introduced. A wheeled robot often experiences wheel slippage as well as its sideslip while traversing rough terrain. Therefore, the basic approach in this section is to compensate the slip via steering and driving maneuvers. In the case of navigation on heaps of rubble, tracked vehicles have much advantage. To improve traversability in such challenging environments, some tracked vehicles are equipped with subtracks, and one kinematical modeling method of tracked vehicle on rough terrain is introduced in Sect. 50.4. In addition, stability analysis of such vehicles is introduced in Sect. 50.5. Based on such kinematical model and stability analysis, a sensor-based control of tracked vehicle on rough terrain is introduced in Sect. 50.6. Sect. 50.7 summarizes this chapter.

In this chapter, we introduce modeling and control for wheeled mobile robots and tracked vehicles. The target environment is rough terrains, which includes both deformable soil and heaps of rubble. Therefore, the topics are roughly divided into two categories, wheeled robots on deformable soil and tracked vehicles on heaps of rubble.rough terrainwheeled mobile robottracked vehicle After providing an overview of this area in Sect. 50.1, a modeling method of wheeled robots on a deformable terrain is introduced in Sect. 50.2. It is based on terramechanics, which is the study focusing on the mechanical properties of natural rough terrain and its response to off-road vehicle, specifically the interaction between wheel/track and soil. In Sect. 50.3, the control of wheeled robots is introduced. A wheeled robot often experiences wheel slippage as well as its sideslip while traversing rough terrain. Therefore, the basic approach in this section is to compensate the slip via steering and driving maneuvers. In the case of navigation on heaps of rubble, tracked vehicles have much advantage. To improve traversability in such challenging environments, some tracked vehicles are equipped with subtracks, and one kinematical modeling method of tracked vehicle on rough terrain is introduced in Sect. 50.4. In addition, stability analysis of such vehicles is introduced in Sect. 50.5. Based on such kinematical model and stability analysis, a sensor-based control of tracked vehicle on rough terrain is introduced in Sect. 50.6. Sect. 50.7 summarizes this chapter.

In disaster areas, operating heavy construction equipment remotely and autonomously is necessary, but conventional remote-controlled heavy equipment has problems such as insufficient operability, limited mobility on slopes and stairs, and low work efficiency because of difficult remote control. As part of the ImPACT-TRC Program, a group of Japanese researchers attempts to solve these problems by developing a construction robot for disaster relief tasks with a new mechanism and new control methods. This chapter presents the overview of construction robot and the details of main elemental technologies making up the robot. Section 5.1 describes the basic configuration of the robot and the teleoperation system. Section 5.2 is a tether powered drone which provides extra visual information. Sections 5.4 and 5.3 are force and tactile feedback for skillful teleoperation. Section 5.5 is visual information feedback which consists of an arbitrary viewpoint visualization system and a visible and LWIR camera system to observe surrounding of the robot in a dark night scene and/or a very foggy scene. These functions can dramatically increase construction equipment’s capacity to deal with large-scale disasters and accidents.

In disaster areas, operating heavy construction equipment remotely and autonomously is necessary, but conventional remote-controlled heavy equipment has problems such as insufficient operability, limited mobility on slopes and stairs, and low work efficiency because of difficult remote control. As part of the ImPACT-TRC Program, a group of Japanese researchers attempts to solve these problems by developing a construction robot for disaster relief tasks with a new mechanism and new control methods. This chapter presents the overview of construction robot and the details of main elemental technologies making up the robot. Section 5.1 describes the basic configuration of the robot and the teleoperation system. Section 5.2 is a tether powered drone which provides extra visual information. Sections 5.4 and 5.3 are force and tactile feedback for skillful teleoperation. Section 5.5 is visual information feedback which consists of an arbitrary viewpoint visualization system and a visible and LWIR camera system to observe surrounding of the robot in a dark night scene and/or a very foggy scene. These functions can dramatically increase construction equipment’s capacity to deal with large-scale disasters and accidents.

宇宙技術に関して編纂された同ハンドブックにおいて，宇宙ロボットに関する最新動向，技術開発および学術的アプローチについて記している．