ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATED SYSTEMS LAB

The field of robotics has been undergoing a major change from manufacturing applications to entertainment, home, rehabilitation, search and rescue, and service applications. Robotics requires research in many areas that include hybrid systems, embedded systems, sensory fusion, distributed artificial intelligence, computer vision, machine learning, human-machine interaction, localization, planning, navigation, etc. This large field provides ample research problems.
The Robotics and Automated Systems Lab (RAS Lab) of Frederick University carries out research on a number of sub-fields of intelligent robotics, mostly mobile systems. The laboratory houses a number of custom and premade robotic systems.
RAS research concentrates on industry and funding organizations funded projects. But, several internally funded projects are also being developed in the laboratory. It provides students and researchers with an opportunity to work on cutting edge robotic technologies and in the development of new robotics applications. The majority of the work done in the laborotory is on robot and automated systems controllers, control software, perception, sensor fusion, navigation and path planning of autonomous or semi-autonomous systems.

The goal of the Robotics and Automated Systems Laboratory (RAS Lab) is to discover and develop fundamental scientific principles and practices that are applicable to intelligent mobile robot systems. In addition, it is the goal of the laboratory to facilitate technology transfer of its research results to yield solutions to real world problems for a wide range of application domains. This has been accomplished with several industry and government organizations.
Below is a list of projects the faculty of the laboratory is currently working on or has completed.

Support the robotic education of students of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences of Frederick University. Both graduate and undergraduate courses are supported by this laboratory.
The laboratory also assists the Robotics Academy of Frederick University. The Robotics Academy emphasizes on the education of primary and secondary level students and educators.
It also gives opportunities to students to work on undergraduate and graduate research projects.

RESEARCH GRANTS

List of funded research projects of RAS Lab.

2012-2014: Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation Research Program: “Development of a 3d Design Software for Children” (ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΗΣΕΙΣ/ΠΡΟΪΟΝ/0311), Amount: 206.940€.

The goal of this project is to develop a three‐dimensional CAD application. The target users of this application are students at the K12 level of education. This application that will allow students to present their ideas and to create virtual three‐dimensional structures using virtual Engino Toy Systems contruction parts. The program will have libraries of virtual components and users will be able to build complex structures using these virtual components. Libraries will have Engino construction parts and other existing parts that are currently used in the Design and Technology courses at the K12 level of education.

2009-2012: Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation Research Program: “Robotic Models for Teaching “Control Systems” in Design and Technology” (ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΗΣΕΙΣ/ΕΦΑΡΜ/0308/60), Amount: 170.000€.

Frederick University in collaboration with Engino Toy Systems has developed a new robotic system as an extension to the Engino construction toy. The system consists of 2 parts: the Engino Robotics Platform (ERP) box with its peripherals and the Engino Graphical Programming Interface EGPI). The main objective of the ERP system is to provide effective tool not only for teaching robotics, control systems and technology course but also to be integrated as an instructional tool within the teaching and learning process, aiming to achieve instructional goals. The ERP system is suitable to be used by preprimary to higher education students.

RUNNING PROJECTS

List of selected projects.
ΗΡΩΝ USVs
Several USVs have been developed

ERON (ΗΡΩΝ) Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) were fully developed at the RAS Lab.  They are fully unmanned vehicle capable of following a path with accuracy of less than one meter.
More information available at the Marine Robotics Center website of RAS Lab

Surveillance Robot
Testing Phase

This system is under development. The electronics and chassis of the robot have all been completed. The robot has 4 motors controlling the four off road wheels. The robot is controlled via Wi-Fi and is capable of sending back live video feedback to the user. 

Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)
Testing Phase

RAS Lab has developed several custom made ROVs. The latest small inspection ROV is under development and in the initial testing phase. 
More information available at the Marine Robotics Center website of RAS Lab

Current Measurement Unit
Testing Phase

The prototype has already been developed and it is currently being tested in the field. Initial tests have been performed in water containers. The system consists of a GPS receiver, an Arduino Single Board Computer. The results are fed remotely to a smartphone/tablet. The waterproof housing is currently being developed. 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

A list of selected publications

Book Chapters

  1. N. Eteokleous, G. A. Demetriou, A. Lambrou, “The Pedagogical Framework for Integrating Robotics as an Interdisciplinary Learning - Cognitive Tool,” in Information and Communications Technology: New Research, Nova Science Publishers, Inc., 2013, ch. 7, pp. 141-158.
  2. G. A. Demetriou, “Mobile Robotics in Education and Research,” in Mobile Robots, InTech Publications, 2011, Rijeka, Croatia, ch. 2, pp. 27-48.

Journal

  1. G. Demetriou, G. Simmons, “VisiLogic: Digital Logic Education Through Interaction,” The Cyprus Journal of Science and Technology, Vol. 5, No. 3, 2007.
  2. G. Demetriou, A. Lambert. “Virtual environments for robotics education: an extensible object‐ oriented platform,” IEEE Robotics and Automation, Vol. 12, No 4, pp. 75‐91, December 2005.

Conferences 

  1. G.A. Demetriou, A. Hadjipieri, I.E. Panayidou, A. Papasavva, S. Ioannou, “ERON: A PID Controlled Autonomous Surface Vessel”, in MELECON 2016, Lemesos, Cyprus, April 18-20, 2016.
  2. G. A. Demetriou, A. Lambrou, N. Eteokleous, C. Sisamos, “The Engino Robotics Platform (ERP) Controller for Education,” in 21st IEEE Mediterranean Conference on Control and Automation (MED '13), Platanias, Chania, Crete, Greece, 2013.
  3. G. A. Demetriou, “Robotic Wheel Chairs,” in 9th IEEE International Conference on Information Technology and Applications in Biomedicine (ITAB2009), Larnaca, Cyprus, November 5-7, 2009.
  4. G. A. Demetriou, A. Vystavkin, S. Anastasiou, A. Theofilou, C. Giannopoulos, D. Yerolemou. “Indoor Mobile Robot Localization Using a Wireless Network: WiFiBot Case Study,” in The 2008 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence (ICAI'08), Las Vegas, Nevada, July 14-17, 2008.
  5. G. Demetriou. “A Survey of Sensors for Localization of Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs),” in The 2006 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence (ICAI'06), Las Vegas, Nevada, June 26-29, 2006.

CONTACT US

Robotics and Automated Systems Laboratory
Frederick University
Mariou Agathaggelou 18
3080 Lemesos, Cyprus

T: +357 25730975

WhatsApp 

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