Field applications such as mining, cargo handling, construction and agriculture, offer an alternative view of the future of robotics science. Such applications are characterized by the use of high valued equipment in extremely harsh and demanding environments. On the positive side, the high value of equipment offers the opportunity for deploying sensor and computing technology whose cost would be prohibitive in any other application. Further, the harshness of the environment often provides its own economic arguments for developing and deploying robotic technology. Conversely, the size of machinery and the nature of the environment mean that considerable resources and skills must be employed in any experimental robotics program.The paper by Satcudean et al. describes a position-based impedance controller for a teleoperated hydraulic excavator. A number of key issues in modeling, practical instrumentation and control of a hydraulic machine are addressed in the paper. Extensive results showing bucket contact forces in a ground smoothing application is presented. These particularly show some of the difficulties involved in instrumenting and controlling large hydraulic machinery in unknown environments. The use of a novel six-degree of freedom magnetically-levitated teleoperation master for controlling velocity and forces is also described.Dissanayake et al. describe a semiautomatic container handling crane. The paper describes the modeling and instrumentation of a "Stewart platform" reeved container and crane. Instrumentation includes both rope tension and inertial measurements. Together with a stiffness model of the crane, this information is used to generate anti-sway control signals for the crane. Experimental work on a 1/15th scale model is described.The paper by Durrant-Whyte et al. describes the development of high-integrity navigation systems for large outdoor mobile vehicles. It describes a navigation system structure which permits the analysis and quantification of sensor fault modes and overall system integrity. Results from a navigation system comprising dual GPS/IMU and MMW radar/encoder loops is described, demonstrating an ability to tolerate and recover from single sensor failures.
228Corke describes a semi-automated 3500 tonne dragline. The paper describes the particular difficulties in modeling and controlling very large and poorly understood machines. The instrumentation employed obtains measurements of the state of the machine. The paper also describes the approach taken towards interfacing a partially automated machine with a human operator.Abstract: A position-based impedance controller has been implemented on a mini-excavator. Its performance and an approach to evaluate its stability robustness for given environment impedances are discussed. A dual hybrid teleoperation controller is proposed for machine control. Issues of transparency axe discussed.