Ways of assisting with tele-operation (Second research Project)

This was the second research project to investigate assisting people with tele-operation tasks. The project continued the development of ultrasonic sensor systems for tele-operated vehicles and explored new software algorithms to mix human and sensor inputs to drive the tele-operated vehicle.

The project compared speed to complete progressively more difficult mobile robot paths between human tele-operators and humans with sensor systems to assist. The results suggested that as tasks became more complicated then sensors could become more useful. The effects of time delays were investigated and adaptive shared control systems were introduced.

The ability of tele-operators to complete progressively more difficult mobile robot paths was improved by using simple expert systems and ultrasonic sensors. Simple expert systems were introduced to improve the sensor-systems on tele-operated mobile-robots.

Key findings were:

- Sensor assistance becomes more and more useful as tasks become more complicated.
- As tasks become progressively more difficult then the mix between the input form human tele-operators and sensor systems can be adjusted.
- Time delays adversely affect teleoperation of a mobile robot but adaptive shared control and sensors can help with that.
- The systems can improve the ability of tele-operators to complete progressively more difficult mobile robot paths.
- Simple expert systems and ultrasonic sensors were shown to assist a tele-operator driving a mobile robot.
- Successes and failures were analysed for a tele-operated mobile robot in various modes of operation.