The Open Automation and Control Systems Journal

2009, 2 : 85-95
Published online 200913. DOI: 10.2174/1874444300902010085
Publisher ID: TOAUTOCJ-2-85

Step-On Interface on Mobile Robot to Operate by Stepping on Projected Button

Takafumi Matsumaru and Kosuke Akai
Bio-Robotics and Human- Mechatronics Lab., Shizuoka Univ., Johoku, Naka, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan.

ABSTRACT

This paper proposes the step-on interface (SOI) to operate a mobile robot in which a projector projects and displays a direction screen on a floor and a user specifies a button showing the selected movement by stepping or pointing. The HFAMRO-1 mobile robot has been developed to demonstrate the SOI’s potential (HFAMRO: “human-friendly amusing” mobile robot). The SOI of HFAMRO-1 consists of a projector and a range scanner on an omni-directional mobile platform. From operational comparison with other input interfaces, it is confirmed that we can direct the robot movement using our own foot. We had some students who does not specialize robotic systems try to operate HFAMRO-1 with their shoes, and all trial students could specify the button to operate the robot satisfactorily and everyone mastered the SOI immediately.

Keywords:

Human-Friendly Amusing Mobile Robot (HFAMRO), Projector, Step-On Interface (SOI).