Sensors-based mobile robot for harsh environments: functionalities, energy consumption analysis and characterization

Authors

  • Roberto De Fazio Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, Lecce 73100, Italy http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0893-138X
  • Dany Mpoi Katamba Department of Electronics, Institut Supérieur de Techniques Appliquées - ISTA University, Kinshasa, DR Congo
  • Aimè Lay Ekuakille Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, Lecce 73100, Italy
  • Miguel Joseph Ferreira Department of Electronics, Institut Supérieur de Techniques Appliquées - ISTA University, Kinshasa, DR Congo
  • Simon Kidiamboko Department of Electronics, Institut Supérieur de Techniques Appliquées - ISTA University, Kinshasa, DR Congo
  • Nicola Ivan Giannoccaro Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, Lecce 73100, Italy http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9392-8339
  • Ramiro Velazquez Faculty of Engineering, Universidad Panamericana, Aguascalientes 20290, Mexico http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9966-9131
  • Paolo Visconti Department of Innovation Enginnering, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4058-4042

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21014/acta_imeko.v10i2.907

Abstract

Mobile robots and rovers play an important role in many industrial applications. Under certain constraints, they are suitable in harsh environments and conditions in which protracted human activity is not safe or permitted. In many circumstances, mechanical aspects and electrical consumption need to be optimized for autonomous and wheeled mobile robots. The paper illustrates the design of a semi-custom wheeled mobile robot with high-efficiency mono- or polycrystalline photovoltaic panel on the roof that supports the lithium ion batteries during particular tasks (e.g. navigating rough terrain, obstacles or steep paths) to extend the robot’s autonomy. An electronic controller was designed, and data acquisition related to power consumption performed using a specific experimental setup. The robot can detect parameters such as temperature, humidity, concentrations of toxic gas species and the presence of flames, making it particularly suitable for contaminated environments or industrial plants. For this aim, the mobile robot was equipped with a wide range of commercial sensors and a Global Positioning System receiver to track its position. In addition, using an HC-06 Bluetooth transceiver, the robot receives commands and instructions, and sends the acquired data to the developed IoTool smartphone application, where they are displayed to be analysed by user.

Author Biographies

Aimè Lay Ekuakille, Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, Lecce 73100, Italy

Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, Lecce 73100, Italy

Professor

Miguel Joseph Ferreira, Department of Electronics, Institut Supérieur de Techniques Appliquées - ISTA University, Kinshasa, DR Congo

Department of Electronics, Institut Supérieur de Techniques Appliquées - ISTA University, Kinshasa, DR Congo

Simon Kidiamboko, Department of Electronics, Institut Supérieur de Techniques Appliquées - ISTA University, Kinshasa, DR Congo

Department of Electronics, Institut Supérieur de Techniques Appliquées - ISTA University, Kinshasa, DR Congo

Nicola Ivan Giannoccaro, Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, Lecce 73100, Italy

Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, Lecce 73100, Italy

Professor

Ramiro Velazquez, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad Panamericana, Aguascalientes 20290, Mexico

Faculty of Engineering, Universidad Panamericana, Aguascalientes 20290, Mexico

Professor

Paolo Visconti, Department of Innovation Enginnering, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy

Department of Innovation Enginnering, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy

Professor

Downloads

Additional Files

Published

2021-06-29

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 2 (2021)

Section

Research Papers

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  • Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  • Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  • Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).