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Robotics and subsumption architecture — Parallax Forums

Robotics and subsumption architecture

ImageCraftImageCraft Posts: 348
edited 2008-08-27 21:02 in Propeller 1
Subsumption architecture is a "new" (well, 20+ years old) way of thinking about designing intelligent systems. I am designing V2 of our subsumption architecture based OS, REXIS, and Propeller, with the multiple Cogs (and potentially stacking multiple Cogs together as suggested by Bob R.) is an ideal environment for REXIS. If you are interested, please take a look at our company's blog. I welcome any suggestions and comments here or in the blog.

http://imagecraft.wordpress.com

// richard

Comments

  • rjo_rjo_ Posts: 1,825
    edited 2008-08-26 23:42
    Richard

    I am fully awake now and took a look...I don't have the background to comment.

    how would sensor fusion be handled?

    Rich
  • ImageCraftImageCraft Posts: 348
    edited 2008-08-26 23:54
    rjo_ said...

    how would sensor fusion be handled?

    Rich

    You can handle it different ways, depending on whether the sensor effects are equally weighted or not. Lets say there are two sensors and they affect the same actuator.

    Scenario One: Sensors have same priority:
    A single behavior reads both sensor and acts accordingly.

    Scenario Two: Sensor Two has higher priority
    Behavior One handles sensor #1 and change the actuator
    Behavior Two handles sensor #2 and suppresses the output from Behavior #1

    etc.
  • Mike HuseltonMike Huselton Posts: 746
    edited 2008-08-27 00:48
    Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) systems was an area of intense software and hardware development by me
    in the 1991-1995 period. The company I worked for was NDC Automation, with my travel shared
    between their US, Swedish and Australian offices.

    These robots were laser-guided using a proprietary 360 degree scanning
    head to perform triangulation with fixed reflector beacons.

    As a result, I became acutely aware of Rodney Brooks' research, among others investigating subsumtive
    architectures. I coded the micontroller and pc systems responsible for the vehicles guidance, and designed
    the hardware for the communication links and RS422 interfaces.

    This article definitely piques my interest. Do you have any more to share?

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    JMH

    Post Edited (Quantum) : 8/27/2008 12:55:47 AM GMT
  • ImageCraftImageCraft Posts: 348
    edited 2008-08-27 09:50
    Quantum said...
    ...

    This article definitely piques my interest. Do you have any more to share?

    Not currently. All that is fit to print is on the blog entry. REXIS (V1) was demonstrated on a robot (named Ripley) converted from a RC car. I am not terribly good with hardware and my friend took out the steering mechanism and replaced it with a futuba drive. For sensor, we just have a polaroid sonar module mounted on a servo driven rotating platform. At my thesis presentation, Ripley performed perfectly by navigating out of the room, down the hallway and out to the parking lot.

    What would be really neat is to get hexapod or a quadrapod, and re-design and implement something similar to what Genghis used. It was phenomenal to see it walk, using the subsumption program.

    As for REXIS.MkII, I need to gauge demand for it first. As mentioned, Propeller is actually a great fit for the architecture. The language processor is relatively simple but not trivial and of course the API won't be easy to get right and tight. Lots of challenges, but they are good challenges.
  • nomadnomad Posts: 276
    edited 2008-08-27 13:13
    hi
    ImageCraft said...

    What would be really neat is to get hexapod or a quadrapod, and re-design and implement something similar to what Genghis used. It was phenomenal to see it walk, using the subsumption program.

    i am verry interesting in this stuff from rodney brooks and his
    <Subsumption architecture on ghenghis
    i am work about 2 years on a quadrapod, with 4 ServoLegs with 3DOF
    hardware (2 propellerProtoBoards, 3 PING-Distance-Sensors, 1 PIR and 1
    memsic2125 3axis sensors.

    for walking i hope can make this with walknet (stence and swing legs) and
    the Subsumption architecture for the sensor fusioning and AI (avoid obstacles, look for
    peoples (PIR) pathPlaning.

    now i make a look at your blog.

    ich somebody here hints and tips .......

    excuse my bad english

    regards
    nomad
  • SapiehaSapieha Posts: 2,964
    edited 2008-08-27 13:29
    Hi ImageCraft


    You said.

    2 sensor´s. Why not 3 and fault tolerant system

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Nothing is impossible, there are only different degrees of difficulty.

    Sapieha
  • Mike HuseltonMike Huselton Posts: 746
    edited 2008-08-27 13:36
    Subsumptive architectures place no limit on the number of sensors.
    Fault tolerance is one of the things at which this architecture excels.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    JMH
  • SapiehaSapieha Posts: 2,964
    edited 2008-08-27 13:44
    Hi Quantum.

    Yes, but!

    2 it is to low to fault test.
    3 and more have more precision. If 1 of 3 fault it is more precise why fault

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Nothing is impossible, there are only different degrees of difficulty.

    Sapieha
  • Mike HuseltonMike Huselton Posts: 746
    edited 2008-08-27 14:08
    Sapieha,

    I must be thick-headed this morning.

    Could you clarify or explain using an example?

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    JMH
  • ImageCraftImageCraft Posts: 348
    edited 2008-08-27 20:01
    Hi Sepieha, the two sensors was just an example. It's just meant to (may be badly) answer the question on sensor fusion. The number of sensors is orthogonal to the subsumption architecture. As JMH says, there is no limit per se. On a real system, of course if you can afford duplicate sensors, the system is more robust.
  • SapiehaSapieha Posts: 2,964
    edited 2008-08-27 20:18
    Hi ImageCraft.

    My point was.

    In fault tolerant systems number on same sensor´s must be 3 or more to decide fault on one sensor.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Nothing is impossible, there are only different degrees of difficulty.

    Sapieha
  • ImageCraftImageCraft Posts: 348
    edited 2008-08-27 20:44
    Yes, for a correct definition of fault tolerant, you are correct.
  • simonlsimonl Posts: 866
    edited 2008-08-27 21:02
    @richard: You've got me interested again - first ICC and now this! I first came across subsumption a couple of years ago but a family illness meant I couldn't concentrate on it and couldn't understand it. Thanks for reminding me - maybe this time I'll understand LOL!

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Cheers,

    Simon
    www.norfolkhelicopterclub.co.uk
    You'll always have as many take-offs as landings, the trick is to be sure you can take-off again ;-)
    BTW: I type as I'm thinking, so please don't take any offense at my writing style smile.gif
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