MSc by Research in Bio Mechatronics and Robotics - Exploration Robotics

University of Leeds

Exploration Robotics is all about sending mobile robots into natural or artificial environments where people can’t go (or don’t want to go) in order to gather valuable sensory data and, sometimes, perform physical tasks. Some of the diverse scenarios and applications in which exploration robotics have the potential to make a significant impact include: Defence and Security; Search and Rescue; Archaeology; Environmental Monitoring; Nuclear decommissioning; Space Exploration; Oil and Gas industry. Within the broader context of Field Robotics, Exploration Robotics is something of a catch-all, describing most real-world mobile robot applications that are not covered by Service Robotics or Infrastructure Robotics. Some of the use cases under Infrastructure Robotics could also be described as Exploration Robotics, but the former also includes many examples that are more repetitive than is typical of Exploration Robotics. Compared to Service Robots, Exploration Robots must usually operate in environments that are less structured, and more challenging from a locomotion perspective.