The Hindu Business Line : Micro-robot

This is a micro-robot — a project by Subhash. S, a research student. Under the guidance of Dr Madhav Krishna, Assistant Professor, IIIT Hyderabad, he built the micro-robot to perform simple functions such as security patrol (it moves around and can map an area — if an algorithm is added to it, it sounds an alarm).

An advanced version of the same could even be used in earthquake rescue. Work on that will start in six months' time, he says.

Meanwhile, this basic bot is being tested. It can be controlled wirelessly from a PC using a low power wireless RF technology called ZigBee. To minimise error, the robot relies on more than one input. Hence it needs to process motion control (acceleration and speed) along with information from a wheel encoder (which indicates the spinning of wheel) and a digital compass (for orientation) to evaluate its progress.

In comparison with other bots made till date, the micro-robot is extremely affordable. US-based Active Media's Amigobot costs Rs 1-2 lakh and the Swedish Khepera costs Rs 2-3 lakh. This will cost only Rs 15,000-Rs 20,000, Subhash said, speaking at Microsoft's annual research event TechVista 2007 held in Bangalore.

While development costs have gone up to Rs 50,000-70,000, he feels it is an extremely reliable and flexible bot. "Fixtures and better wheels can be added to make it an all-terrain robot," he says. Micro-robot will be in the Indian market in a year's time.

preethij@thehindu.co.in