Strategic Newsletter 25 March 2010The intelligence report has come back suggesting the terrorists are in the compound. A stealth UAV is currently circling the site, and a bird’s eye video of the area. A team is preparing to move into the area and capture them before they can execute their latest plan. The intelligence is limited however, so it is hard to know exactly how many suspects might be there, and if there are civilians in the area. The UAV has already spotted two suspects that look like they may be armed, but another group in the area appears to be civilians. It is obvious that better intelligence is required to perform an effective operation and minimise casualties. The robot surveillance squad is needed to perform detailed surveillance so the troops can perform their job. Will they find all the enemy troops as well as their armoured vehicles, snipers and IED’s?

These pictures are samples obtained from the MOD Grand Challenge event in 2008.

The Multi Autonomous Ground-robotic International Challenge (MAGIC 2010), was created by the Australian and US Departments of Defence to encourage teams to apply advanced research and robotics to develop systems to operate in scenarios similar to this. Strategic Engineering and Adelaide University have combined their expertise in robotics and automated systems to enter the competition. Our entry has been shortlisted for a June evaluation stage, where the five best teams will then participate in the final event in November. For details visit the official MAGIC 2010 website: http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/MAGIC2010/

Our entry is a team of lightweight mobile robots, capable of automatically navigating and mapping an urban environment, whilst searching for threatening objects. We will have to overcome the challenges of creating a light, autonomous mobile robot which can perform surveillance within the area of interest. We have selected the 30kg, 6 wheeled robot shown as it can maneuver through doorways, and carry a payload capable of completing the MAGIC 2010 tasks.

This newsletter introduces the MAGIC 2010 challenge and some of the key members of the project team from both Strategic Engineering and Adelaide University, with following newsletters outlining progress towards the challenge. Some further details and videos from the project can be found at our website: http://www.mecheng.adelaide.edu.au/robotics/robotics_projects.php?wpage_id=44&title=63&browsebyauthor=115

With the team consisting of over 20 members from both Strategic Engineering, and the University of Adelaide, each newsletter will introduce a few more of the team. This will be through pictures and detailed profiles of the key members to highlight their own skills and expertise, as well as to show some of their experiences on this project. To the right is a picture of the Engineering Students from the University of Adelaide participating in the team for their final year honours project. (Standing) Adam Cundy, Sundar Komandurelaiyavalli, Anton Steketee, Benjamin Quast, Mark Baulis; (Kneeling) Peter Hardy, Konrad Pilch, Nigel Gaskin, Phuong Huynh, Stella Wong.

Group Member Profiles:The Project Leader, and Managing Director of Strategic is Richard Aplin. He has been the driving force behind the entry for MAGIC 2010 through his passion and experience in Robotics. Richard has been running his own robotics company since completing his PhD in the area with the Australian Centre for Field Robotics, and knows many of the challenges that occur in such difficult robotics. Richard said “Our robots will be able to enter the area, make a 3D map and find any objects of interest ”

Associate Professor Ben Cazzolato from the University of Adelaide is assisting a group of Engineering honours students to ensure the robots can operate effectively. His academic interests range from sensor analysis to control strategies, but his experience will be very valuable. Ben commented “The MAGIC competition provides an opportunity for the University of Adelaide to demonstrate its strengths in the design and construction of autonomous platforms, and associated technologies such as image processing, communications and control.”

Nigel Gaskin is an engineering student at Adelaide University, and a leader of the final year student project being conducted for the challenge. He is currently studying for a major in Mechatronic engineering and is interested in developing into further research and development roles in the future. His comment on MAGIC was “MAGIC 2010 is an excellent step forward in developing technology for reducing and hopefully one day removing the risk of human injury and loss of

life in the inevitable combat or hostage situations that are experienced in our world today”.

Significant support has been provided from various quarters within the University to fund the initial project development. The Project also aims to raise sufficient funds to ensure an enduring robotics capability for future students and researchers to be able to carry on research and development in this area.