The goal is to design control algorithms that allow a single operator to coordinate a group of robots performing a task autonomously. Currently, the aim is to conduct a census of the Pampas deer, an endangered species, in wetlands within the Campos del Tuyú National Park, located in the Samborombón Bay (Buenos Aires). This area is difficult to access by land. This, along with the collection of CO₂ and other pollutant data, is one of the objectives of the Wildlife Monitoring Bots project by the Spanish National Research Council (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), in which the laboratory is involved.
see moreApplications of Unmanned Vehicles
Autonomous vehicles—whether they are ground-based, aerial, or aquatic—are generally operated individually. However, since each type of vehicle offers advantages and limitations—such as speed, data collection capability from the environment, or load-carrying capacity and autonomy—it is interesting to create complex systems that allow for the simultaneous and coordinated use of multiple robotic platforms. For instance, by combining aerial and aquatic vehicles, it becomes possible to directly detect protected species in hard-to-reach areas, thereby generating more accurate censuses.
