Acoustic Scanning for Robotic Range Sensing and Object Pattern Recognition

Intelligent task automation (i.e., robotics) requi res comprehensive sensory data to guide manipulators in executing assembly and inspection processes. Para1 le1 sensor data processing can provide data compression and speed the scene analysis/control ler decision task. Acoustic scanning provides information about plane Surface orientation, ranging and surface curvature not as readily obtained with optical image analysis techniques. In addition, acoustic scanning does not encounter false signal i nformation due to specular reflection (hot spots)