Abstract-We present and evaluate new ROS packages for coordinated multi-robot exploration, namely communication, global map construction, and exploration. The packages allow completely distributed control and do not rely on (but allow) central controllers. Their integration including application layer protocols allows out of the box installation and execution. The communication package enables reliable ad hoc communication allowing to exchange local maps between robots which are merged to a global map. Exploration uses the global map to spatially spread robots and decrease exploration time. The intention of the implementation is to offer basic functionality for coordinated multi-robot systems and to enable other research groups to experimentally work on multi-robot systems. The packages are tested in real-world experiments using Turtlebot and Pioneer robots. Further, we analyze their performance using simulations and verify their correct working.
There is a strong demand in the aviation industry to replace cables in airplanes by wireless connectivity to gain flexibility and reduce weight. Such in-plane wireless communications must be reliable and robust against interference. As part of our activities in this domain, we present a proof-of-concept for an ultra-wideband (UWB) sensor network deployed in a mockup of a small passenger cabin of a commercial aircraft with a few passengers and report experimental results on the packet loss rate with off-the-shelf IEEE 802.15.4-2011 compliant UWB transceivers. It is shown that a combination of spatial and temporal diversity can significantly lower the packet loss rate of different link types without degrading throughput.
Wireless solutions for on-board communications are gaining momentum in the aerospace industry with the aim to further improve flight safety, reduce aircraft costs, and lower environmental impact. Also passenger infotainment services are increasingly realized in a wireless way and call for high-rate connectivity to the Internet. There are many issues though, including security, coexistence, and power sustainability. We argue that ultra-wideband (UWB) technology is a promising implementation path for such intra-aircaft communications. From a power sustainability perspective, UWB attains a unique tradeoff between power consumption and data rate that can become a key enabler. Experimental results from a proof-of-concept deployment of off-the-shelf UWB transceivers in an Airbus A319 support our discussion and shed light on the challenges ahead.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.