This section introduces readers to the BOTS Project, its purpose, and how to find out more information about it, and the project group members.
The goal of the project is to write software to simulate robots working in a factory environment.
The robots will be able to move objects (coloured blocks) from a delivery area to an appropriate receptacle, called a bin. Through genetic programming, the robots should be able to optimise this task, and adapt to changes within the factory environment.
Users should be able to define the factory environment, including the location of bins and delivery areas, the number of bots, and their starting positions. The software will simulate the robots' ability to interact with the environment through sensors and mobility hardware. The output is a rule set, suitable for programming real-life robots in the specified environment.
When completed, this project will be a framework designed for further experimentation with robots, possibly leading to the implementation of robots in real life.
The client wishes the project to simulate the following:
1. Robots that can sense objects (blocks, walls, etc.)
2. Robots that can pick up & move objects.
3. Robots that can place blocks in user defined receptacles.
4. Robots that can optimise task 3.
5. Robots that can sort blocks based upon their colour.
6. Robots that can optimise task 5.
7. Robots that can co-operate.
Our goal was to produce software satisfying wishes 1 to 4 by the end of 1997.
| E-mail address: | sbeacom@st.nepean.uws.edu.au |
| Student number: | 95 054 751 |
| Location: | Hazelbrook |
| Main Contributions: | User Documentation and Delphi Coding. |
| E-mail address: | platypus@acmeonline.net |
| Student number: | 95 058 346 |
| Location: | Plumpton |
| Main Contributions: | Genetic Programming Research, Perl Coding and LISP Coding. |
| E-mail address: | mgreenaw@st.nepean.uws.edu.au |
| Student number: | 95 059 248 |
| Location: | Mount Pleasant |
| Main Contributions: | Genetic Programming Research and LISP Coding. |
| E-mail address: | clowther@st.nepean.uws.edu.au |
| Student number: | 95 062 323 |
| Location: | Prospect |
| Main Contributions: | Testing, Delphi Coding and LISP Coding. |
| E-mail address: | mikz@poboxes.com |
| Student number: | 91 455 404 |
| Location: | Baulkham Hills |
| Main Contributions: | General Documentation, GUI Critic and Delphi Coding. |
| E-mail address: | mslade@st.nepean.uws.edu.au |
| Student number: | 95 066 833 |
| Telephone number: | (02) 4722 9525 |
| Location: | Penrith |
| Main Contributions: | Delphi Coding. |
Information about the BOTS project, including resources, links and progress reports, are available on the World Wide Web. The URL is:
http://www.st.nepean.uws.edu.au/~sad9709
All programs, code and documentation are available on CD-ROM. This includes source files for our web page (mentioned in section 2.3), and all e-mail exchanged on the bots mailing list throughout the project's duration.
To obtain a copy of this CD-ROM, please contact our client, George Bryan, at the University of Western Sydney, Nepean, by telephoning +61 2 4736 0751. Alternatively, contact the members of the BOTS Project Group (see section 2.3 above).