As years go by, robots have become more advanced and mobile. Pretty sure you have seen these everywhere you go. With each having their own specific functions. Boston Dynamics have been a leader of providing such robots.
With their continuous rise and demand, it makes you wonder how they function and how they are able to see and analyze particular situations around them. Sounds interesting? Here’s some top three interesting ways how robots see the world.
Visual Cameras
Meet Spot, one of Boston Dynamic’s Visual Robots (www.bostondynamics.com)
Cameras are like the robots’ eyes. Standard visual cameras provide various robots with intuitive visual data and they come in various form factors. There are also stereo cameras which provide depth perception by using two cameras that are spaced apart, which assists the robots to measure and analyze the shape, size, and location of objects. Offering better navigation.
Thermal and Acoustic Imaging
A worker carefully checks the work area through careful thermal imaging (www.bostondynamics.com)
These are more advanced features in some robots like those that have thermal (IR) cameras. These things detect infrared radiation as well as visualizing various temperatures which enables accurate detection of thermal anomalies. This is an absolute game-changer especially in maintenance, inspections, as well search-and-rescue efforts.
The usages of acoustic imaging combine the usage of cameras and microphones in order to map pressure, detect ultrasonic sounds, locate sound sources, and spot frequencies. These kinds of sensors help robots detect air leaks, fault bearings, overheating equipment, and related issues before something worse happens.
There is even spot cam + IR cameras in some robots that uses thermal cameras for real-time situational awareness.
Multi-Sensors
Of course, there are robots that are developed to have multi-sensor integration features in order to form hybrid and dynamic sensing solution. Aside from sensor data processed with the computer, some are now integrated with AI to provide intelligent planning as well as accurate interaction with the environment around them.
The usage of the multi-sensor approach provides advanced efficiency, safety, and autonomy. Making these robots capable to operating real-world situations that are complex and unpredictable.
Boston Dynamics continues to innovate ways to create better robots that not only helps humans in the toughest and complicated situations, it also gets the job done right and fast. With the immerging usage of AI, accuracy and continuous improvements are taking place.