22 accepted papers
Typical LiDAR SLAM architectures feature a front-end for odometry estimation and a back-end for refining and optimizing the trajectory and map, commonly through loop closures. However, loop closure detection in large-scale missions presents significant computational challenges due to the need to ide
Typical LiDAR SLAM architectures feature a front-end for odometry estimation and a back-end for refining and optimizing the trajectory and map, commonly through loop closures. However, loop closure detection in large-scale missions presents significant computational challenges due to the need to ide…
In this work, we present a hierarchical framework designed to support robotic inspection under environment uncertainty. By leveraging a known environment model, existing methods plan and safely track inspection routes to visit points of interest. However, discrepancies between the model and actual s…
Accurate environment perception is fundamental for robust robot navigation, mapping, and interaction. Traditional perception pipelines rely on multiple sensors, including stereo cameras and LiDAR, which impose constraints on cost, payload, and system integration. In this paper, we propose a novel si…
Efficient transmission of 3D point cloud data is critical for advanced perception in centralized and decentralized multi-agent robotic systems, especially nowadays with the growing reliance on edge and cloud-based processing. However, the large and complex nature of point clouds creates challenges u…
Autonomous exploration of obstacle-rich spaces requires strategies that ensure efficiency while guaranteeing safety against collisions with obstacles. This paper investigates a novel platform-agnostic reinforcement learning framework that integrates a graph neural network-based policy for next-waypo…
Autonomous navigation in unknown environments is a fundamental challenge in robotics, particularly in coordinating ground and aerial robots to maximize exploration efficiency. This paper presents a novel approach that utilizes a hierarchical graph to represent the environment, encoding both geometri
In this article, we present the Layered Semantic Graphs (LSG), a novel actionable hierarchical scene graph, fully integrated with a multi-modal mission planner, the FLIE: A First-Look based Inspection and Exploration planner [1]. The novelty of this work stems from aiming to address the task of main
In this article, we address the problem of collaborative task assignment, sequencing, and multi-agent pathfinding (TSPF), where a team of agents must visit a set of task locations without collisions while minimizing flowtime. TSPF incorporates agent-task compatibility constraints and ensures that al
This work establishes the concept of commonsense scene composition, with a focus on extending Belief Scene Graphs by estimating the spatial distribution of unseen objects. Specifically, the commonsense scene composition capability refers to the understanding of the spatial relationships among relate
Collaborative multi-agent exploration of unknown environments is crucial for search and rescue operations. Effective real-world deployment must address challenges such as limited inter-agent communication and static and dynamic obstacles. This paper introduces a novel decentralized collaborative fra
In this work, we introduce SPADE, a path planning framework designed for autonomous navigation in dynamic environments using 3D scene graphs. SPADE combines hierarchical path planning with local geometric awareness to enable collision-free movement in dynamic scenes. The framework bifurcates the pla
In this article, we propose the novel concept of Belief Scene Graphs, which are utility-driven extensions of partial 3D scene graphs, that enable efficient high-level task planning with partial information. We propose a graph-based learning methodology for the computation of belief (also referred to…
In this article, we propose a novel communication-based action space enhancement for the D-MARL exploration algorithm to improve the efficiency of mapping an unknown environment, represented by an occupancy grid map. In general, communication between autonomous systems is crucial when exploring larg…
This article studies the commonsense object affordance concept for enabling close-to-human task planning and task optimization of embodied robotic agents in urban environments. The focus of the object affordance is on reasoning how to effectively identify object’s inherent utility during the task ex…
In this article, we propose a novel navigation framework that leverages a two layered graph representation of the environment for efficient large-scale exploration, while it integrates a novel uncertainty awareness scheme to handle dynamic scene changes in previously explored areas. The framework is…
In this letter, a floating robotic emulation platform is presented with an autonomous maneuverability for a virtual demonstration of a satellite motion. Such a robotic platform design is characterized by its friction-less, levitating, yet planar motion over a hyper-smooth surface. The design of the
Authors Benjamin Morrell, Kamak Ebadi, Jeremy Nash and Aliakbar Agha-mohammadi in the above-named work [ibid., IEEE Robot. Automat. Lett., vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 421–428, Apr. 2020] were incorrectly affiliated with the Polytechnic University of Bari. The correct authors affiliations are reported in the
A reliable odometry source is a prerequisite to enable complex autonomy behaviour in next-generation robots operating in extreme environments. In this work, we present a high-precision lidar odometry system to achieve robust and real-time operation under challenging perceptual conditions. LOCUS (Lid
This letter proposes a novel Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC) framework for Micro Aerial Vehicle (MAV) autonomous navigation in indoor enclosed environments. The introduced framework allows us to consider the nonlinear dynamics of MAVs, nonlinear geometric constraints, while guarantees real
This work presents an aerial tool towards the autonomous cooperative coverage and inspection of a large scale 3D infrastructure using multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). In the presented approach the UAVs are relying only on their onboard computer and sensory system, deployed for inspection of…
In this article, we propose a planning algorithm for coverage of complex structures with a network of robotic sensing agents, with multi-robot surveillance missions as our main motivating application. The sensors are deployed to monitor the external surface of a 3D structure. The algorithm controls…