Application Developments

Outdoor Service Robots

Aims The aim is to develop a control system that enables an outdoor service robot to navigate in areas and places not accessible to public transport. The potential applications include the conveyance of people in park areas belonging to convalescence facilities or in theme parks or working areas by performing sweeping, raking or mowing tasks.


Prototype of a lawnmower
Method At the heart of this development is an outdoor navigation system based on (D)GPS containing semi-automatically produced, high-resolution cards with topological and topographical information. The combination of a local DGPS and/or satellite-based DGPS (EGNOS) with local

location and positioning technology (e.g. transponder-based radio navigation and RFID navigation elements) also enable it to be used in environments where satellite navigation is limited or impossible.


Envisaged results
  • concept of an outdoor navigation system with systematic path guidance
  • development of high-resolution cards containing topological and topographical information
  • development and integration of application-specific mechatronic components
  • implementation of outdoor navigation on potential target platforms