Researchers from the Delft University of Technologyled by Tom van Dijk and Christophe De Wagter, have published a study in Science Robotics that redefines autonomous navigation for tiny robots. This team has introduced an insect-inspired visual navigation technique designed specifically for robots with severe resource constraints.
How does the new visual navigation technique work?
The new methodology allows these micro-robots to navigate without relying on external infrastructure such as GPS, which can be impractical in complex environments. Using highly compressed panoramic imagery and odometry data, the robots can return to known locations with minimal margin of error, the robots can return to known locations with a minimum margin of error, ensuring accurate and autonomous navigation.ensuring accurate and autonomous navigation in adverse conditions.
Visual navigation strategy allows these robots to return home after long trajectories. Source: MAVLab TU Delft via Youtube
The technique has the potential to revolutionize areas such as environmental exploration and rescue operations, where small autonomous robots can operate in areas where other technologies could not work. “This technology not only expands the frontiers of robotic navigation, but also opens up new possibilities for research and intervention in previously inaccessible environments,” says Tom van Dijk.
The robotics community celebrates this breakthrough as a crucial step toward replicating natural insect navigation in robots. Future research focuses on improving the obstacle detection and adaptability of robots to new environments, which could significantly expand their practical utility.
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Source: Science
Photo: TUDelft
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