WorldWide Drilling Resource

29 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® MARCH 2019 Robotics Research Receives Substantial Boost Adapted from Information by the Colorado School of Mines The Edgar mine is the Colorado School of Mines’ Experimental Mine in Idaho Springs, Colorado. In the 1870s, this mine produced high-grade silver, gold, lead, and copper. Today, it is used as an underground laboratory for future engineers, providing valuable experience for those who are being trained to find, develop, and process the world’s natural resources. Recently, the National Science Foundation (NSF), awarded a team of computer science professors at the college more than $450,000 for cutting-edge research in underground robotics. The money will be used to purchase equipment such as ground and amphibious robots, drones and robot arms, as well as sensors, networking equipment, and augmented reality headsets to facilitate their use. The drones could be used for underground exploration by itself, or in conjunction with ground robots, while robot arms could be used independently, or mounted to ground robots. The networking equip- ment allows the robot to communicate with other equipment and their human teammates. Augmented reality headsets can provide easier human-robot com- munication in low-light and dusty environments. The team will also be conducting research regarding human-robot teaming, networking, planning, and human-robot interaction, as well as machine learning, mechanical and electrical engineering, robot ethics, and application-driven work on underground information collection, monitoring, surveying, rescue, and crisis management. According to Tom Williams, assistant professor of computer science and prin- cipal investigator on the project, “Being able to safely inspect underground envi- ronments and performing rescues during underground catastrophes is essential to achieve the new underground frontier. It’s important not only to be able to have robots in those types of environments because they can get into areas that humans can’t, but also because they have sensor capabilities that humans don’t - I don’t have laser vision.” Coprincipal investigators for the project are Hao Zhang, computer science assistant professor; Neil Dantam assistant pro- fessor; and Qi Han, assistant professor. Other professors will be contributing their skills as well, including Sebnem Duzgun, mining engineering professor; Kevin Moore, electrical engineering professor; Andrew Petruska, mechanical engineering assistant professor; and Hua Wang, computer science associate professor. Mines graduate student working with a robot inside the Edgar Experimental Mine. MIN