Specifications

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rotate unless the motors turn at different speeds. By monitoring the differential with a
sensor algorithms can be written to control the navigation.
For the purposes of this dissertation the clearest method is to use sensors on each wheel,
or better yet on the actual drive motor, to measure the revolutions and therefore distance
travelled. An algorithm will be written to ensure both drive wheels rotate at the same
speed.
This method will become very useful if time permits to increase the robots performance.
If this goes ahead the robot will use a method known as ‘dead reckoning’ where it
calculates its position as a sum of how far and in what direction it has travelled since its
origin. Although this is a rather inaccurate approach it is far simpler than any Global
Positioning Systems (GPS), especially in such a small application.
2.6 Consequential Effects and Outcomes
The final outcome of this project provides a base model for intelligent household
applications such as cleaning, object retrieval or similar. The extent of this project will
not extend to a final product suitable for marketing but is just the base concept.
The research and technical outcomes from this project pose no direct ethical or legal
dilemmas however if this concept is extended on then some factors may need to be
considered.
Many engineers and scientists are still studying the use of autonomous vehicles for
many different purposes in many different fields of expertise. From military through to
agriculture robots are becoming more frequently relied on and the need for more
advanced technology is ever increasing.
Military and federal applications of robots include the use of technology to diffuse
bombs or clear areas where the risk of losing human life is too high. Similar to this is
the use of robots to track through rubble from collapsed buildings or landslides to
search for survivors and perform simple medical checks. NASA uses autonomous
robotics for missions such as Mars Rover discovery and other distant missions.