14 accepted papers
We present AstroLoc2, a monocular and time-offlight (ToF) visual-inertial graph-based localizer used by the Astrobee free-flying robots on the International Space Station (ISS). AstroLoc2 sequentially performs odometry and absolute localization in a single process to decouple map noise from velocity
In this work, we use MEMS microphones as vibration sensors to simultaneously classify texture and estimate contact position and velocity. Vibration sensors are an important facet of both human and robotic tactile sensing, providing fast detection of contact and onset of slip. Microphones are an attr…
We present the first annotated benchmark datasets for evaluating free-flyer visual-inertial localization and mapping algorithms in a zero-g spacecraft interior. The Astrobee free-flying robots that operate inside the International Space Station (ISS) collected the datasets. Space intra-vehicular fre
The TrackDLO algorithm estimates the shape of a Deformable Linear Object (DLO) under occlusion from a sequence of RGB-D images. TrackDLO is vision-only and runs in real-time. It requires no external state information from physics modeling, simulation, visual markers, or contact as input. The algorit
Design and execution of high fidelity acoustic sensing in complex environments poses a number of practical challenges, from accurately measuring the geometry of the setup and estimating the channel response, to time synchronization amongst the sources and receivers. When acoustic experiments are per…
We present AstroLoc, an efficient and robust monocular visual-inertial graph-based localization system used by the Astrobee free-flying robots onboard the International Space Station (ISS). We provide a novel localization system that limits the traditionally higher computation times for graph-based…
We propose a system that uses semantic object detections to localize a microgravity free-flyer. Many applications require absolute localization in a known reference frame, such as the execution of waypoint trajectories defined by human operators. Classical geometric methods build a map of point feat…
In this work, we present an end-to-end heterogeneous multi-robot system framework where ground robots are able to localize, plan, and navigate in a semantic map created in real time by a high-altitude quadrotor. The ground robots choose and deconflict their targets independently, without any externa
Tactile sensing can improve end-effector control and grasp quality, especially for free-flying robots where target approach and alignment present particular challenges. However, many current tactile sensing technologies are not suitable for the harsh environment of space. We present a tactile sensor…
Currently, GPS is by far the most popular global localization method. However, it is not always reliable or accurate in all environments. SLAM methods enable local state estimation but provide no means of registering the local map to a global one, which can be important for inter-robot collaboration
HTC Vive has been gaining attention as a cost-effective, off-the-shelf tracking system for collecting ground truth pose data. We assess this system's pose estimation through a series of controlled experiments where we show its precision to be in the millimeter magnitude and accuracy to range from mi…
Manifolds are used in almost all robotics applications even if they are not explicitly modeled. We propose a differential geometric approach for optimizing trajectories on a Riemannian manifold with obstacles. The optimization problem depends on a metric and collision function specific to a manifol…
We propose a new optimal trajectory generation technique on SE(3) which avoids known obstacles. We leverage techniques from differential geometry and Lie algebra to formulate a cost functional which is intrinsic to the geometric structure of this space and makes physical sense. We propose an approxi…