IDMind’s main output for FROG is a beautiful big green robot and the documentation to go with it.
IDMind’s main output for FROG is a beautiful big green robot and the documentation to go with it.
Yesterday, while the FROG was powered-down for hardware enhancements, Randy Klaassen and Jan Kolkmeier from the University of Twente added some features to their FROG Wizard-of-Oz web interface.
They designed and implemented this web interface to control not only the output of specific AR content but also to trigger chosen steps from the State Machine.
This interface is not used for the FROG tour when the robot is running autonomously but is a splendid tool for experiments or testing as it can trigger specific states or abilities. It can also be used to keep the FROG in action in the case f really bad weather as it can be used to run just the indoor parts of the robot mission.
Earlier that had made a quick round of the Alcázar and effectuated some quick fixes in their coding for “Ripples through Europe” and “The toilets are NOT over there!“
Another thing that has changed since are last visit is tapestry with the map of Europe. The AR overlay was achieved by defining markers (the position of a number of specific features) on a photo of the original to build a model. These markers then had to be recognised by the FROG using incoming information from the antenna’s camera so that these could used to aim the overlay. The same set of markers was defined in the overlay and these had to match up to the features in the tapestry (the target) so that the overlay would be correctly positioned in the resulting overlay projection. All of this is necessary as, due to its autonomous social navigation, the FROG may stop at a different location in the hall on each separate tour.
Too many ripples in the tapestry at any time could mean that the feature markers cannot be recognised. Of course, there are several solutions to compensate for differences in the folds in the tapestry between tours. This would take some time to implement and as we have some more pressing matters for this session a quick solution was chosen. This involves using the whole tapestry area as a target instead of specific points on the target. Not as elegant as it could be but certainly a neat solution for a proof of concept.
FROG is back at the Royal Alcàzar in Seville. A lot can happen to your tour in a couple of months. A grand refurbishment means that the entrances on one side of the toilets have been blocked. This was where the FROG announced: “The toilets are over there!” while driving to the next point of interest. So, a quick recode was necessary. Should you be in Seville at the moment and should you visit the Alcàzar, you can find toilets near the cafeteria in the gardens.
FROG has appeared on what is considered to be the most viewed television channel in Europe – TF1! A French film crew came to talk to the researchers during an integration and experimentation week at the Royal Alcázar in Seville:
http://videos.tf1.fr/jt-20h/2014/les-touristes-de-seville-guides-par-un-droide-8453447.html
Sometimes we have to be tough! In June the FROG researchers were kept behind bars for hours at a time – all for the sake of integration.
Though, sometimes, we try other methods!
FROG has a new friend. Piggy just arrived one morning to help the researchers. Was he a mascot or a spirit guide? We may never know! But somehow when things got exciting Piggy was heard to snort an encouraging: “oink-oink!”.
If there is a fountain of knowledge, then surely, this must be it: it’s full of researchers!
By the way, the Royal Alcázar is not keen on people misusing their fountains in this way.
One afternoon, during field tests at the Royal Alcazar in Seville FROG was confronted with preparations for an outdoor dinner. These tables had not been there in the morning.
We are pleased to be able to say that FROG navigated the tables without mishaps. Flapping table cloths were a bit of a mystery – but one that can be solved with simple table cloth weights.
So, the news is spreading!
Here’s what some people are saying about FROG: