Robotics @ ANU - Projects


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Projects

Current projects in the Robotic Systems Group:

			Serafina - Small Autonomous Submersibles The Serafina project explores the potentials of multiple, small, fully autonomous, but organized submersibles.

			Shape Memory Alloys This project aims to achieve fast, accurate, motion and force control of actuators based on shape memory alloy (SMA). Wires made from SMA can be stretched easily when cool, but contract forcibly to their original length when heated.

			Fast Cars Keeping cars (2 and 4 wheel drives) controllable in full four wheel drift situations is the central topic for this project. Mechatronics, control, and machine learning are combined to achieve this goal.

			Rigid Body Dynamics ...

			Small Outdoor Helicopters Autonomous flight of small helicopters in real world, outdoor scenarios is a challenge for all areas of robotics. This project focuses on the development of new sensor combinations for robustness at small sizes.

In collaboration with:

Smart Cars

The aim of this project is to develop an intelligent vehicle to conduct intellegent vehicle systems research.

InsectBots

This project works towards faster and more robust biologically-inspired, vision-based algorithms for various tasks such as navigation and control.

Museum Tour Guide Robot

The ANU-Questacon museum tour guide robot offers human-machine interaction in order to inspire and motivate visitors.

Current projects in Robotics Engineering:

X4-flyer

The X4 flyer is an experimental quadrotor under development. It is designed as a prototype for commercial UAV technology and as an experimental platform for visua servo control algorithms. The flyer is heavier than most quadrotor experimental platforms and is expected to offer a payload of 1kg and flight time of 15 minutes.

Current projects in Visual Sciences:

			Insect Vision, Perception and Navigation Insects such as honeybees are impressive navigators despite their relatively small brains and simple nervous systems. We aim to elucidate principles of vision, flight control and navigation in honeybees through behavioural experiments.

			Visual Control of Insect Flight Our aim is to provide the basis for the design of a bioinspired autopilot for flying robots. To this end, we examine the structure and function of the dragonfly ocelli, using methods ranging from optics and anatomy to electrophysiology, behaviour and system identification.

			Visual Ecology We aim to understand the evolution and adaptive significance of eye specialisations in animals. One of our major projects at the moment is to establish an inventory of visual tasks in fiddler crabs. We also use a mobile robotic gantry to reconstruct the views seen by flying insects