10 accepted papers
In this paper, we propose a novel cross-platform fault-tolerant surfacing controller for underwater robots, based on reinforcement learning (RL). Unlike conventional approaches, which require explicit identification of malfunctioning actuators, our method allows the robot to surface using only the r
This work explores the use of artificial whiskers as tactile sensors for enhancing the perception and navigation capabilities of mobile robots in challenging settings such as caves and underground mines. These environments exhibit inconsistent lighting conditions, locally self-similar textures, and…
In this research we show a characterization of mud behavior under vertical stepping. We showed that mud stiffness can vary 45-fold and the energy spent to generate equivalent impulse can vary 2-fold depending on the mud water content, but also that stepping faster on mud leads to lower peak forces a
This letter presents the design, development, and experimental assessment of a soft fluidic actuator that can enable locomotion in a variety of aquatic and terrestrial environments. Most actuation strategies for amphibious locomotion rely on rigid, fast moving components to generate thrust and tract
Reliable navigation of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) depends on the quality of their state estimation. Providing robust velocity estimation thus plays an important role. While water currents are main contributors to the navigational uncertainty of AUVs, they are also an important variable fo
This letter presents a novel design of an oscillatory fin for thrust-efficient and agile underwater robotic locomotion. We propose a flat paddle-fin comprising a set of overlapping cascaded soft flaps that open in one half of the stroke cycle and close in the other. Consequently, asymmetry in the la
Compliant fish-like robots are being developed as efficient and dependable underwater observation platforms with low impact on the observed environment. Orientation control is an essential building block to achieve autonomy for those vehicles. So far, the major focus has been on rigid tails or on fl…
Control of underwater vehicles is a thoroughly investigated subject but still an open problem, because of the environmental disturbances, the highly nonlinear behaviour of vehicles, the complexity of the vehicle hydrodynamics, etc. In this paper, we are interested in depth control of a bioinspired U
This paper demonstrates a novel motion control approach for biomimetic underwater vehicles with pitching fins. Even though these vehicles are highly maneuverable, the actuation of their different degrees of freedom (DOFs) is strongly coupled. To address this problem, we propose to use smooth DOF pri…
Underwater robots conventionally use vision and sonar sensors for perception purposes, but recently bio-inspired sensors that can sense flow have been developed. In literature, flow sensing has been shown to provide useful information about an underwater object and its surroundings. In the light of…