For several decades now, mobile robots have been integral to the development of new robotic systems for new applications, even in nontechnical areas. Mobile robots have already been developed for such uses as industrial automation, medical care, space exploration, demining operations, surveillance, entertainment, museum guides and many other industrial and non-industrial applications. In some cases these products are readily available on the market. A considerable amount of literature is also available; not all of which pertains to technical issues, as listed in the chapters of this book and its companion. Readers will enjoy this book and its companion and will utilize the knowledge gained with satisfaction and will be assisted by its content in their interdisciplinary work for engineering developments of mobile robots, in both old and new applications. This book and its companion can be used as a graduate level course book or a guide book for the practicing engineer who is working on a specific problem which is described in one of the chapters. The companion volume for this book, Mobile Robots for Dynamic Environments, is also available from Momentum Press.

For several decades now, mobile robots have been integral to the development of new robotic systems for new applications, even in nontechnical areas. Mobile robots have already been developed for such uses as industrial automation, medical care, space exploration, demining operations, surveillance, entertainment, museum guides and many other industrial and non-industrial applications. In some cases these products are readily available on the market. A considerable amount of literature is also available; not all of which pertains to technical issues, as listed in the chapters of this book and its companion. Readers will enjoy this book and its companion. They will utilize the knowledge gained with satisfaction and will be assisted by its content in their interdisciplinary work for engineering developments of mobile robots, in both old and new applications. This book and its companion can be used as a graduate level course book or a guide book for the practicing engineer who is working on a specific problem which is described in one of the chapters. The companion volume for this book, Designs and Prototypes of Mobile Robots, is also available from Momentum Press.

As a segment of the broader science of automation, robotics has achieved tremendous progress in recent decades due to the advances in supporting technologies such as computers, control systems, cameras and electronic vision, as well as micro and nanotechnology. Prototyping a design helps in determining system parameters, ranges, and in structuring an overall better system. Robotics is one of the industrial design fields in which prototyping is crucial for improved functionality. Prototyping of Robotic Systems: Applications of Design and Implementation provides a framework for conceptual, theoretical, and applied research in robotic prototyping and its applications. Covering the prototyping of various robotic systems including the complicated industrial robots, the tiny and delicate nanorobots, medical robots for disease diagnosis and treatment, as well as the simple robots for educational purposes, this book is a useful tool for those in the field of robotics prototyping and as a general reference tool for those in related fields.

Mobile robots have been increasingly applied in many different scenarios, such as space exploration and search and rescue, where the robots are required to travel over uneven terrain while outdoors. This book provides a new framework and the related algorithms for designing autonomous mobile robotic systems in such unknown outdoor environments.

During the conceptual design stage of a tracked mobile robot, the designer wishes to verify the robots mobility and manipulation capabilities. Multi-body-dynamics simulation-based virtual prototyping process can be used in the conceptual design stage and can significantly reduce the amount of physical testing required at various design stages, and associated cost. The application of this process for tracked mobile robots has been developed and is shown here. As a test case, it was initially applied to an existing robot and was validated with test results. Later it was applied to a new robot while still in its conceptual design stage. Multi-body-dynamic models of the robots were generated and simulations related to mobility and manipulation tasks were performed. The usefulness of the simulation results to verify and improve the robot design was demonstrated. The above established process can now be applied to new robot designs, during its conceptual design stage.

During the conceptual design stage of a tracked mobile robot, the designer wishes to verify the robot s mobility and manipulation capabilities. Multi-body dynamics simulation-based virtual prototyping process can be used in the conceptual design stage and can significantly reduce the amount of physical testing required at various design stages, and associated cost. The application of this process for tracked mobile robots has been developed and is shown here. As a test case, it was initially applied to an existing robot and was validated with test results. Later it was applied to a new robot while still in its conceptual design stage. Multi-body dynamic models of the robots were generated and simulations related to mobility and manipulation tasks were performed. The usefulness of the simulation results to verify and improve the robot design was demonstrated. The above established process can now be applied to new robot designs, during its conceptual design stage.

Researchers have obtained robots that display an amazing slew of behaviors and perform a multitude of tasks, including perception of environment, negotiating rough terrain, and pushing boxes. This volume offers a wide spectrum of sample works developed in leading research throughout the world about evolutionary mobile robotics and demonstrates the success of the technique in evolving efficient and capable mobile robots.

Mobile robots are automatic machines capable of moving without human intervention and performing certain actions. Mobile robotics is an emerging discipline of robotics and information technology that deals with the development of mobile robots. It is solution-oriented discipline, which involves the application of concepts from information technology, engineering science, artificial intelligence and cognitive sciences. Designing a mobile robot requires designing the different mechanical parts and developing a control system for the robot. Mobile robots are used in medical facilities to move patients, assist with surgical procedures, gather and transport supplies, and disinfect rooms. In agriculture, farmers use mobile robots for maintaining, measuring and harvesting fresh produce. This book traces the progress of the field of mobile robotics and highlights some of its key design concepts, methods and applications. It strives to provide a fair idea about this discipline and help develop a better understanding of the latest advances within this field. As this field is emerging at a rapid pace, the contents of this book will help the readers understand the modern concepts and applications of the subject.