Implementation of Underwater Entertainment Robots Based on Ubiquitous Sensor Networks

Abstract

We present an autonomous entertainment dolphin robot system based on ubiquitous sensor networks(USN). Generally, It is impossible to apply to USN and GPS in underwater bio-mimetic robots. But An Entertainment dolphin robot which presented in this paper operates on the water not underwater. Navigation of the underwater robot in a given area is based on GPS data and the acquired position information from deployed USN motes with emphasis on user interaction. Body structures, sensors and actuators, governing microcontroller boards, and swimming and interaction features are described for a typical entertainment dolphin robot. Actions of mouth-opening, tail splash or water blow through a spout hole are typical responses of interaction when touch sensors on the body detect users' demand. Dolphin robots should turn towards people who demand to interact with them, while swimming autonomously. The functions that are relevant to human-robot interaction as well as robot movement such as path control, obstacle detection and avoidance are managed by microcontrollers on the robot for autonomy. Distance errors are calibrated periodically by the known position data of the deployed USN motes.