Robotic swarm localization using ranging radios

Abstract

A system for localizing a swarm of robotic platforms utilizing ranging sensors. The swarm is localized by purposely leaving some of the platforms of the swarm stationary, providing localization to the moving ones. The platforms in the swarm can alternate between a stationary and moving state.

Claims

1. A method for robotic swarm localization using ranging sensors, comprising the steps of: providing a group of four or more moving platforms; maintaining a stationary position by at least three of the moving platforms from the group of four or more moving platforms at any given time; each moving platform having inertial components that are localized by: measuring the distance between the moving platforms using ranging sensors; and receiving a stationary position reference from at least three platforms from the group at any given time; and maintaining an accurate positioning of the group of platforms, by maintaining at least three stationary platforms from the group of platforms; providing at least three stationary position references from the stationary platforms to the inertial components for localization on each of the moving platforms; creating an ad hoc localization structure; moving the platforms into position by utilizing the stationary platforms; determining when a navigation unit of a platform is not moving; determining when the platform is immobile and no acceleration is present when immobile and stationary; computing acceleration biases to provide a zero velocity update to the navigation unit of the platform; determining if at least three or more platforms from the group are not moving and are stationary, and computing the position of the moving platforms by triangulating the position of at least three stationary platforms.

2. The method for robotic swarm localization of claim 1, wherein the ranging sensors are ranging radios; the ranging radios measure the distance between the robotic platforms; and determining a swarm movement methodology for maintaining relative and absolute localization of the group.

3. The method for robotic swarm localization of claim 2, wherein the ranging radios include electromagnetic waves with active or passive responses; LADAR; vision against known features in the moving platform; and acoustic sensors.

4. The method for robotic swarm localization of claim 1, wherein one or more ranging sensors provide a point-to-point measurement between the platforms.

5. The method for robotic swarm localization of claim 1, further comprising the step of computing the localization using a combination of the ranging sensor data and other sensors and corresponding data in the moving platform.

6. The method for robotic swarm localization of claim 5, wherein the other sensors include one or more of the following sensors: inertial sensor; altimeter; compass; and pressure sensor.

7. The method for robotic swarm localization of claim 1, wherein the number of platforms maintaining a stationary position is more than three, to increase the localization space or accuracy of results.

8. The method for robotic swarm localization of claim 1, wherein the platforms maintaining a stationary position are located on the ground.

9. The method for robotic swarm localization of claim 1, further comprising the steps of traversing an area where stationary and moving platforms exchange functionality; one or more of the stationary platforms become moving platforms; and one or more of the moving platforms become stationary as long as at least three platforms are maintained stationary at any given time.

10. The method for robotic swarm localization of claim 1, further comprising the step of controlling the size of one or more zero velocity updates to match a drift of one or more accelerometers which comprise the inertial components.

11. The method for robotic swarm localization of claim 1, further comprising the step of optimizing a topology of the platforms or sensors left stationary as to minimize an error propagation of this swarm by using an algorithm to search for the most effective topology with respect to the different error propagation generated by the swarm to optimize the topology and therefore minimize the error in localization.

12. The method for robotic swarm localization of claim 1, wherein the swarm is composed of either or ground, underwater, surface, or flying platforms.

13. The method for robotic swarm localization of claim 12, wherein the platforms can be manned or unmanned.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.

(2) FIGS. 1a, 1b, and 1c illustrate the localization swarm on the fly; and

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a group of quads is maintained stationary on the ground to provide a localization pathway for the fling quads.

(4) FIG. 3 is a flow/logic diagram of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) In the following detailed description of the invention of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings (where like numbers represent like elements), which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, but other embodiments may be utilized and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

(6) In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it is understood that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Referring to the figures, it is possible to see the various major elements constituting the apparatus of the present invention.

(7) Ranging radios operating at ultra wide band (UWB) frequencies can provide accurate point-to-point measurements. The accuracy of the range measurements depends on the frequencies used and the radio's design. Commercial, off-the-shelf ranging radios are available utilizing UWB, but there are also ranging radios based on BLUETOOTH, WIFI, and other frequencies and encoding methods. State-of-the-art ranging radios are small in size and low in cost. This makes them prime candidates for installation in small robotic systems.

(8) By installing ranging radios, we can directly measure the distance between the robotic platforms, but they do not provide localization by default. The invention provides a swarm movement methodology for maintaining relative and absolute localization of the group.

(9) As presented earlier, the inertial components 401 of navigation units 402 drift with time 404 as a platform 400 is flying 403. However, when the navigation unit 402 is not moving (i.e. the platform has landed), we are aware that the position is immobile 405; acceleration biases can then be computed 406 (zero velocity update). Moreover, if a sufficient number of platforms 400 are not moving 405, the position of the moving platforms can be computed by triangulating the position of the ones that are stationary 407.

(10) Specifically, let's assume that the position of three quadrotors is known. The quads are on the ground 101, 102, and 103 in a triangular configuration shown in FIG. 1a, 104. There are three other quads 105, 106, and 107 that leap frog over the three landed quads 101, 102, and 103. Since the location of all the robots/quads on the ground 101, 102, and 103 is known, and the ranging radios provide ranges 408 from each landed quad 101, 102, and 103 to each flying quad 105, 106, and 107, the location of the three flying quads 105, 106, and 107 is also known. As the flying quads land 409 as shown in FIG. 1b, 108, the location of their landing will be known 410, releasing 411 the originally landed quads 101, 102, and 103 to fly, starting the cycle 412 once again as shown in FIG. 1c, 109.

(11) Even though the example of FIGS. 1a-1c shows the quads leap frogging, the same algorithm can be used with at least three stationary robots, where the flying robots perform other tasks (like mapping the room), leaving the three stationary robots in place, acting as sources of localization.

(12) In a similar fashion, more than three robots can be used in a stationary manner to create a localization carpet 207 that can provide both localization and communication relay. FIG. 2 shows one such example. In this case, a group of stationary quads 201, 202, 203, 204, and 205 which may be low on battery, are being used to provide localization for the incoming wave of flying quads 206 that are traversing a path 208.

(13) Different vehicle topologies (stationary vehicles) will provide different error propagation for the swarm 413. In order to optimize the topology and therefore minimize the error in localization, the system can search for the most effective topology 414. The literature already presents a variety of optimization algorithms that can be used for this purpose. In particular, a lot of work in this area was conducted in the early 70s and 80s to find the best topology for GPS satellites. In the present incarnation the topology is generated by expanding a multi-vehicle search. Other search algorithms like visibility graph-based, DIJKSTRA, neural networks, or even simplex methods can be used.

(14) Thus, it is appreciated that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variation in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the above description are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

(15) Furthermore, other areas of art may benefit from this method and adjustments to the design are anticipated. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.