[CNIT 581 SDR / Spring 2020] iBoiler

[CNIT 581 SDR: Week 8 – March 13, 2020] Introducing iBoiler

This week, we wrote a project proposal and made a presentation in class.
We have reviewed literatures, come up with initial approach, and proposed it in class.
Let us introduce our project and initial approach.

What is iBoiler?

iBoiler is an intelligent autonomous robot which familiarizes itself to a specific indoor facility – School, Office, Halls, Prisons, Hospitals and so on so forth. So, over time, he becomes at home in this place, just like how ‘at home’ you feel in your own house. 

iBoiler can : 

1. See
2. Listen
3. Hear
4. Charge itself at the end of the day and Sleep
5. And most importantly, THINK. 

By using all of the above iBoiler’s skills, we can turn him into a customised robot for different indoor applications. Leveraging it’s intelligence, the opportunities and scope is endless. Even from a business perspective the scalability of this platform is encouraging. 

From the standard University indoor’s to the corridors of a Hospital to the indoor’s of an office space, iBoiler can be used to perform a really wide plethora of crucial and non crucial tasks.

Project proposal for CIT 581 – SDR Spring 2020

iBoiler one

The first iBoiler

The iBoiler concept mentioned in the previous section is the ultimate goal. In order to get there, we are proposing the iBoiler One. The aim of this project is to accomplish and demonstrate few of the most important skills of the final iBoiler. 

The tasks aimed for showcase and demonstration in the iBoiler One are:

1. Mapping & Familiarity : iBoiler One must be able to survey & map the entire 2nd floor of KNOY Building at Purdue University, West Lafayette — On its OWN. It then must be able to use the map (Boiler Map) to navigate the entire corridor and update the map with more accuracy (Using learning models) – thereby getting FAMILIAR with the 2nd floor plan at KNOY. The generated map is a highly detailed map which includes: Labels of room numbers, corridor widths, known obstacles and so on so forth. 
2. Autonomous navigation : iBoiler One must be able to autonomously and intelligently navigate (using an electric 4 wheel drive system) between any two given destinations in the 2nd Floor of KNOY. The robot will, therefore, be able to demonstrate the skills to: SEE, HEAR, SENSE and THINK 
3. File & Package delivery : To demonstrate that the iBoiler can be customised for specific indoor applications, we are going to demonstrate a simple file/package delivery task between any two given offices in the 2nd Floor of KNOY.
4. Human command processing and execution : The iBoiler One will be able to take basic text commands over a bluetooth communication link between a smartphone and the iBoiler One.