List of Abbreviations and Glossary

Autonomy vs Automation

- Automation: Derived from the Greek word "automaton," meaning something that acts by itself. Refers to machines repeating the same motion or tasks without human intervention.

- Autonomy: The capability of a system to govern itself and make decisions independently, operating under its own set of laws.

Robot vs Vehicle

- Robot: From the Czech word "robota," meaning forced labor. A machine that operates automatically or via remote control to perform tasks.

- Vehicle: A device designed for transporting people or cargo.

Robotic System: A combination of a robot, its environment, supporting infrastructure, other machines, and humans interacting with it.

AMR vs AGV

- AMR: Autonomous Mobile Robot, capable of navigating and making decisions independently.

- AGV: Automated Guided Vehicle, follows predefined paths or instructions.

Agent and World vs Controller and Plant

- Agent and World: Conceptual framework where the agent (robot) interacts with the world (environment).

- Controller and Plant: The controller directs the plant (mechanical system) to achieve desired outcomes.

Estimate and Belief

- Estimation: The process of transforming sensor data into actionable information such as position, orientation, and velocity for the robot.

- Belief: The robot's internal representation or estimate of its current state based on the processed data.

Ackermann Steering: A geometrical arrangement in vehicles ensuring all wheels follow concentric circular paths while turning, allowing inner wheels to turn sharper than outer wheels, thus reducing tire slip and wear.

CAN Bus (Controller Area Network Bus): A robust vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other without a host computer.

CogniPilot: The software platform used in MR-B3RB to enable autonomous navigation and control, integrating sensor data and executing navigation algorithms.

GPS (Global Positioning System): A satellite-based navigation system used in MR-B3RB to provide accurate position and timing information.

IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit): A device that measures and reports a robot's specific force, angular rate, and sometimes the magnetic field surrounding the body, aiding in navigation and orientation.

Kalman Filter: An algorithm that uses a series of measurements observed over time, containing statistical noise and other inaccuracies, to produce estimates of unknown variables that tend to be more accurate than those based on a single measurement alone.

LIDAR: Light Detection and Ranging, a remote sensing method used in MR-B3RB for measuring distances and creating detailed maps of the environment.

MR-CANHUBK344: A central hub in the MR-B3RB system used for managing CAN (Controller Area Network) communications between different modules.

NavQPlus: A development platform used in MR-B3RB for advanced computing and sensor integration, including cameras and GPS.

PID Controller (Proportional-Integral-Derivative Controller): A control loop mechanism used in industrial control systems, employing feedback to maintain the desired output of a system.

PWM (Pulse Width Modulation): A technique used to control the power supplied to electrical devices, crucial for motor speed control in MR-B3RB.

QDEC (Quadrature Decoder): A system used to interpret signals from rotary encoders, providing precise measurements of wheel rotations in MR-B3RB.

RGB LED: A light-emitting diode that can emit red, green, and blue colors, used in MR-B3RB for visual status indicators.

ROS2 (Robot Operating System 2): An open-source framework for robot software development, providing tools and libraries for building and controlling robots like MR-B3RB.

SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping): A process by which a robot or device constructs a map of an unknown environment while simultaneously keeping track of its location within that environment.

ToF (Time of Flight) Camera: A depth sensor that measures the time it takes for a light signal to return after being reflected off an object, used in MR-B3RB for obstacle detection.

Waypoint Navigation: A navigation method in which a robot or vehicle follows a series of pre-defined points, or waypoints, to reach its destination.