Robot made in MAI is rewarded with the prize of the X-th National Scientific and Technical Conference

Timofey Khorev, the engineer of the scientific research division and the senior lecturer of the MAI Department 305 "Automated Complexes of Orientation and Navigation Systems" became the winner of the X-th National Scientific and Technical Conference. Experts awarded him the third place in the section "Robotics and Artificial Intelligence" for the project "Robotic system for patrolling and protecting aircraft at parking site".

From wheeled platform to smart robot

Timofey Khorev graduated from MAI with a degree in orientation, stabilization and navigation instruments and systems. He started to work on the project in the summer of 2017 together with his colleagues from the "Inertial and integrated systems and their sensitive elements testing" laboratory and MAI students.

— The request to launch such a project was received from the "Zhukovsky" international airport and the SC-Robotics company, — says Timofey Khorev. — Earlier our Department carried out the work on the creation of the so-called single-axis wheeled platform. Experts of the Department designed a two-wheeled robot, which was stabilized via using a system similar to that used on a Segway. The project was developed further on and later became the basis on which we started developing the software and the hardware. At the moment the Department together with SC-Robotics has already assembled three prototypes of the new robot.

Together with the laboratory team Timofey Khorev changed the appearance of the original robot: to ensure the energy efficiency and safety of the structure, it was made three-wheeled. At the same time, the additional wheel was installed so as to preserve the maneuverability of the two-wheeled model.

The robot is equipped with a circular view system consisting of several video cameras, the infrared illumination allows them to work at night. The software and hardware is developed on the basis of neural network algorithms for object classification and allows to identify a person. The robot transmits information to the operator’s console, indicating suspicious objects, and also preserves it in the built-in storage device. The integrated navigation system is used to determine the robot’s coordinates and set the route.

New opportunity

This is not the first time when this robot was awarded. For example, last year the project was among the best in the "Youth and the Future of aviation and cosmonautics " competition in MAI. It was also appraised by experts at the international aviation and space exhibition MAKS-2019. And the authors of the project are not going to stop there.

— We plan to upgrade the robot by adding the function of protecting the aircraft during its post-flight inspection at parking during the next stage of work, — says Timofey Khorev. — It is planned to add a flying copter to the ground robot, and it will allow to inspect the aircraft simultaneously from above and below, and to detect defects more effectively, like small cracks, skin irregularities, etc.

The authors suggest that in the future the robots will be able to take over some of the aviation security service functions.

— It is planned to use robots as additional tool of the security service and gradually increase their autonomy — the engineer explains. — For example, instead of several service employees who monitor each aircraft, it will be possible to use only one who will monitor the robots. Perhaps we will make them completely autonomous gradually.