Research Profile - Dale Carnegie - Victoria University of Wellington

About Dale Carnegie
and his research
Professor Carnegie’s research is primarily in the area of
mechatronics – the interaction of mechanical, electronic
and software engineering – to provide solutions for a variety
of industrial-based problems. His work includes the creation
of autonomous mobile robots, i.e. robots that operate
without human intervention.
Dale Carnegie is Professor of Electronic and Computer
Systems Engineering at Victoria University of Wellington’s
(VUW) School of Engineering and Computer Science. He also
leads VUW’s Mechatronics and Robotics Research Group,
where he and his students research a wide range of topics
including embedded controllers, sensors, adaptive control
systems, instrumentation, digital electronics and mobile
robotics. Specifically, the Group’s work involves developing:
▪▪ Autonomous Mobile Robotics
This includes development of the robotic security guard
MARVIN and a system of mobile robots to assist with
Urban Search and Rescue (see story on reverse).
▪▪ New ways to incorporate embedded controllers into
electronic devices
Almost all modern electronic devices include some form
of embedded controller, perhaps a microcontroller,
digital signal processor, field programmable gate array
or even a single-board computer. Professor Carnegie
and his Group are regularly tasked with solving industryrelated problems that require the incorporation of
embedded controllers, instrumentation, electronics
and control systems. Recent work includes projects
for organisations such as Kinopta, Fonterra, DieselGas,
TekronInternational, Perreaux Industries and Industrial
Research Limited (now known as Callaghan Innovation
Research Ltd).
▪▪ A full-field, portable range imaging system
Normal cameras only return the intensity or brightness
of the environment; however, sometimes it is the range
or distance to the objects that is of more interest.
Historically, ranging is done by the time-consuming
process of scanning a laser dot over the scene, or
the software-complex process of using two cameras
and resolving the stereo image to determine range.
The system developed by the Mechatronics Group
can capture the range to every object in a standard
camera lens field of view (wide-angle through to
telephoto) quickly, precisely and with a high degree of
configurability. This means that mobile robots can be
operated in complex and changing environments, and
potentially used in forensics (e.g. to measure debris from
fatal car crashes), and even the entertainment industry.
▪▪ Specialised control systems
Mobile robotic and moving mechanical devices require
sophisticated control systems that must be able to
adapt to changing situations. Professor Carnegie and
his researchers have developed a number of specialised
control systems that can be used on a number of
different platforms. These systems incorporate machine
learning (artificial intelligence) and various innovative
high level control algorithms so that robots can
complete complex tasks without human intervention.
Multiplying Mobile Robots
Hierarchy of different sized and
shaped robots a world first
In response to a number of global and national disasters,
Victoria University of Wellington’s (VUW) Mechatronics
and Robotics Research Group has constructed one of New
Zealand’s most diverse collection of mobile, autonomous
robots including a family of search and rescue robots that
could be the first to save a person’s life.
The lack of effective robots for search and rescue operations
after the Christchurch earthquakes and the Pike River mine
disaster highlight the potential for new robotic technology.
The current international efforts to solve these problems
are fundamentally flawed since they rely on large, single
and expensive robots ($300,000 and more). Operators are
understandably reluctant to deploy such valuable robots in
environments where mishaps and potential damage to the
device is likely.
VUW’s Mechatronics Group has developed an innovative
hierarchy of robots that includes disposable miniature
sensor robots that are designed to go where it’s unsafe for
humans to enter. Being disposable means the design, and
hence the cost, can be dramatically reduced.
The flagship system comprises a grandmother, six daughters
and 180 granddaughters.
The grandmother has all of the large processing ability,
artificial intelligence and long range communications
equipment. She can make the big decisions and she is kept
safe.
The grandmother drives to the edge of a disaster zone from
where she controls six robust and rugged mother robots
that penetrate deep into the disaster area. When they see
a crevice or hole, they drop off a daughter robot (about the
size of a cellphone), which can then burrow beneath the
rubble and detect signs of life.
Key benefits of the system are its affordability and
versatility. The smaller robots in the hierarchy are able to
be modified for Police work – to enter a building to check
for hazards before a Police raid – or for the Fire Service – to
enter a building ahead of fire fighters to check for explosive
gases. An alternative version will have the ability to enter
mines. The Mechatronics Group is now looking for funding to
develop a prototype of this hierarchical robotic system.
These robots are examples of the growing field of
mechatronics which combines mechanical, electronic and
software engineering with sensors, physics, mathematics,
marketing and design. Embedded controllers, effective
instrumentation and relevant control systems are at the
core of not only these robots, but a substantial number of
commercial electronics. Consequently, graduates of VUW’s
Mechatronics Group are highly sought after by industry.
Professor Carnegie with the search and rescue robots that could save lives
To find out more about Professor Carnegie’s research, please contact him directly by calling
+64-4-463 7485 or emailing him at dale.carnegie@ecs.vuw.ac.nz