9413923 Lewis This award provides funds for a robotics assembly cell and mobile vehicle testbed. The equipment will be dedicated to the advancement of robotics intelligent material handling technology. The equipment consists of two Silicon Graphics servers, a MIMD parallel processing computer, robotics equipment for the intelligent materials handling cell, a mobile platform with arm, a real-time digital control system, and distributed control equipment. This equipment will comprise the completion of two next generation systems ready for technology transfer to industry: the Intelligent Material Handling Development Cell and the Real-Time Digital Control System. The objective of the research to be performed using this equipment is to develop intelligent material handling technology in unstructured environments. The technology may improve United States global competitiveness by providing robotics systems that do not need to be explicitly retaught and reprogrammed as a result of minor changes in environments or tasks. This research represents across-disciplinary effort that is con-sponsored by industry, whichs will work with the university to steer the research and commercialize the result.
