Mobile robotics is a cutting-edge research topic, which until recently has primarily focused on issues such as the design of controllers and robot hardware. The field is now ready to embrace theoretical methods from dynamical systems theory, statistics and system identification to produce quantitative analyses and computer models of robot-environment interaction.

Scientific Methods in Mobile Robotics: Quantitative Analysis of Agent Behaviour is a decisive step towards a theoretical understanding of the operation of autonomous mobile robotics. This book presents cutting-edge research results on the application of chaos theory, parametric and non-parametric statistics and dynamical systems theory in mobile robotics. It presents foundations of a theory of mobile robotics by providing a quantitative analysis of the interaction between robot, task and environment. Practical examples and case studies show how robot behaviour can be logged, modelled, analysed and interpreted. This new approach will aid the design of controllers, analysis of agent behaviour and the verification of experimental results.

As the first book to apply advanced scientific methods to the growing field of mobile robots, Scientific Methods in Mobile Robotics: Quantitative Analysis of Agent Behaviour will interest researchers, lecturers and post-graduate students in robotics, artificial intelligence and cognitive science.

Mobile robotics has until now focused on issues like design of controllers and robot hardware. It is now ready to embrace theoretical methods from dynamical systems theory, statistics and system identification to produce a formalized approach based on quantitative analyses and computer models of the interaction between robot, task and environment.

This book is a step towards a theoretical understanding of the operation of autonomous mobile robots. It presents cutting-edge research on the application of chaos theory, parametric and non-parametric statistics and dynamical systems theory in this field. Practical examples and case studies show how robot behaviour can be logged, analysed, interpreted and modelled, aiding design of controllers, analysis of agent behaviour and verification of results.

As the first book to apply advanced scientific methods to mobile robots it will interest researchers, lecturers and post-graduate students in robotics, artificial intelligence and cognitive science.

Robots have evolved impressively since the 3-D manipulator built by C.W. K- ward (1957), the two little electromechanical turtles Elmer and Elsie [Walter, 1950, Walter, 1951], and the ?rst mobile robots controlled by comp- ers, Shakey [Nilsson, 1984], CART [Moravec, 1979, Moravec, 1983], and - lare [Giralt et al., 1979]. Since then, we have seen industrial robot manipu- tors working in car factories, automatic guided vehicles moving heavy loads along pre-de?ned routes, human-remotely-operated robots neutralising bombs, and even semi-autonomous robots, like Sojourner, going to Mars and moving from one position to another commanded from Earth. Robots will go further and further in our society. However, there is still a kind of robot that has not completely taken off so far: autonomous robots. Autonomy depends upon working without human supervision for a considerable amount of time, taking independent decisions, adapting to new challenges in dynamic environments, interacting with other systems and humans, and so on. Research on autonomy is highly motivated by the expectations of having robots that can work with us and for us in everyday environments, assisting us at home or work, acting as servants and companions to help us in the execution of different tasks, so that we can have more spare time and a better quality of life.

Mobile Robotics: A Practical Introduction (2nd edition) is an excellent introduction to the foundations and methods used for designing completely autonomous mobile robots. A fascinating, cutting-edge, research topic, autonomous mobile robotics is now taught in more and more universities. In this book you are introduced to the fundamental concepts of this complex field via twelve detailed case studies that show how to build and program real working robots. Topics covered in clued learning, autonomous navigation in unmodified, noisy and unpredictable environments, and high fidelity robot simulation. This new edition has been updated to include a new chapter on novelty detection, and provides a very practical introduction to mobile robotics for a general scientific audience. It is essential reading for 2nd and 3rd year undergraduate students and postgraduate students studying robotics, artificial intelligence, cognitive science and robot engineering. The update and overview of core concepts in mobile robotics will assist and encourage practitioners of the field and set challenges to explore new avenues of research in this exiting field. The author is Senior Lecturer at the Department of Computer Science at the University of Essex. "A very fine overview over the relevant problems to be solved in the attempt to bring intelligence to a moving vehicle." Professor Dr. Ewald von Puttkamer, University of Kaiserslautern "Case studies show ways of achieving an impressive repertoire of kinds of learned behaviour, navigation and map-building. The book is an admirable introduction to this modern approach to mobile robotics and certainly gives a great deal of food for thought. This is an important and though-provoking book." Alex M. Andrew in Kybernetes Vol 29 No 4 and Robotica Vol 18

Questo libro costituisce un'eccellente introduzione ai fondamenti e ai metodi della progettazione e della sperimentazione di robot autonomi mobili.

La trattazione presenta in modo chiaro e rigoroso i temi centrali di questo complesso campo di ricerca: l'apprendimento e l'addestramento del robot; la navigazione autonoma in ambienti non modificati, soggetti a rumore e a eventi non prevedibili; l'analisi del comportamento del robot; il riconoscimento di novita percettive; la simulazione di robot reali.

Tredici dettagliati casi di studio mostrano come progettare e programmare robot reali in grado di eseguire i compiti assegnati.

Il libro rappresenta un riferimento indispensabile per gli studenti dei corsi universitari e di specializzazione nell'ambito della robotica, dell'intelligenza artificiale, delle scienze cognitive e dell'ingegneria dei robot, ma e accessibile anche a lettori con una preparazione scientifica non specifica.

Using information and scale as central themes, this comprehensive survey explains how to handle real problems in astronomical data analysis through a modern arsenal of powerful techniques. The coverage includes chapters or appendices on: detection and filtering; image compression; multichannel, multiscale, and catalog data analytical methods; wavelets transforms, Picard iteration, and software tools.