A non-industrial operating robot: the drive system

The study and design of non-industrial vehicles, which may be used in environments dangerous for human beings, is gaining considerable interest. For this purpose, hybrid remote controlled vehicles are those giving a wider range of uses. Issues to be tackled include the mechanical handling problems, artificial vision of the vehicle, remote control and data transmission, power supplies and controls. All these subsystems, though different, are often interacting among them; hence the subsystem study is to consider this fact. The European EUREKA Project to design and build the AMR1 (advanced mobile robots) to be used in unfavourable environments in the case of emergency operations is presented. Particular attention is focused on the electrical system and its control.<>