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ActivMedia

AGILE NEW POWERBOT tm ROBOT CARRIES 100KG! 

New Base Carries 100kg Autonomously Avoiding Cliffs & Obstacles! 

	PowerBot	..
	Photo ActiveMedia

PowerBot(tm) entertained crowds at AAAI-2002 in Edmonton last summer by carrying people around the trade show floor. It's true calling, however, is not as an amusement ride, but to serve as an autonomous AGV for industrial and/or research applications. PowerBot can carry a payload of up to 100kg, including a front-mounted industrial 6dof arm plus gripper.

The AGV relies on laser sensing for navigation and localization. It uses feedback from sonar and pressure-sensing bumpers to detect obstacles and from fixed IR to detect stairs and other cliffs. Its full-size 1.5GHz onboard PC can handle maps of 10mm resolution for amazingly precise autonomous navigation of a 64w X 85 X 43h cm platform into a 74cm wide crate. (Download Video Demo 1.6Mb ) 

This robot has a 12-week lead time. Now accepting orders for the remainder of the second & all of the third run of PowerBot. 

	PowerBot	..
	Photo ActiveMedia

POWERBOT TM is an amazing high-payload high-speed highly maneuverable platform with all the intelligence of ActivMedia smaller platforms. PowerBotTM moves up to 6 kph with a payload up to 100kg. It is built on the same core client-server model as all ActivMedia robots, making it software compatible. PowerBot TM offers a full-sized PC computer option, opening the way for onboard vision processing, Ethernet-based communications, laser, DGPS, and other autonomous functions. The PowerBotTM stores up to 2100 watt-hours of swappable batteries. Fourteen forward and 14 rear sonar sense obstacles from 15 cm to 7 m. PowerBot's powerful motors and two monster wheels on steel frame with suspension is designed for higher speeds with good response. The PowerBotTM uses 500 tick motor encoders. Its sensing extends far beyond the ordinary with laser-based navigation options, GPS, bumpers, 6 dof DC arm, vision, and a rapidly growing suite of other options.

The bare PowerBotTM base with included ARIA software has the ability to:

• WANDER randomly, avoiding obstacles

• DRIVE controlled by keys or joystick 

• COMMUNICATE SENSOR & CONTROL INFORMATION including sonar, motor encoder, motor controls, user I/O, and battery charge data 

• RUN C/C++ PROGRAMS created with or without ARIA or our other software development environments 

• SIMULATE BEHAVIORS OFFLINE with the simulator that accompanies each development environment 

With its Laser Mapping and Navigation option, PowerBotTM can:

• MAP rooms, labs or buildings in minutes 

• PLAN PATHS to goals 

• AVOID OBSTACLES along the way 

• NAVIGATE TIGHT SPACES for delivery or docking 
  

PowerBotTM is designed for industrial, commercial and research use: handling, delivery, 
mapping, navigation, monitoring, reconnaissance, vision, cooperation, and other behaviors...

Article Reference : 002089

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