This paper presents a UAV-UGV team designed for autonomous firefighting, developed for the Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC) 2020. The system uses LiDAR for localization in GNSS-restricted environments and fuses LiDAR and thermal camera data to track fires. Relative navigation enables successful fire extinguishing. Why it matters: This research demonstrates the potential of robotic systems in autonomous firefighting, addressing challenges in dangerous and inaccessible environments, and advancing robotics research within the UAE.
Team NimbRo presented their UGV solution for autonomous wall building and firefighting at the Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC) 2020. The robot integrates a wheeled omnidirectional base, a 6 DoF manipulator arm with a magnetic gripper, a storage system, and a water spraying system. It uses 3D LiDAR, RGB, and thermal cameras to perceive the environment, pick up boxes, construct walls, and detect/extinguish fires. Why it matters: The work highlights advancements in autonomous robotics for complex tasks relevant to construction and disaster response in the UAE and globally.
This paper presents the design and deployment of an autonomous unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) equipped with a robotic arm for urban firefighting. The UGV uses on-board sensors for navigation and a thermal camera for fire source identification, with a custom pump for fire suppression. The system was developed for the Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC) 2020, where it achieved the highest score among UGV solutions and contributed to winning first place. Why it matters: This demonstrates the potential of autonomous robotics in addressing complex and dangerous real-world challenges like urban firefighting in the GCC region and beyond.
Team NimbRo presented four UAVs tailored for the MBZIRC 2020 challenges, including target chasing, wall building, and fire fighting. The UAVs utilized onboard object detection, aerial manipulation, LiDAR, and thermal cameras to perform their tasks autonomously. The team's software stack, which is mostly open-source, includes tools for system configuration, monitoring, and agile trajectory generation. Why it matters: The work demonstrates advanced robotics capabilities developed in the context of a major regional competition, advancing machine vision and trajectory generation, and showcasing potential applications in various sectors.
This paper presents two robotic systems developed for the MBZIRC 2020 competition, designed for autonomous wall construction. The systems utilize a UGV with 3D LiDAR for precise brick pose estimation and a UAV employing real-time visual servoing. The authors report results from the competition and lab experiments, discussing lessons learned from the autonomous wall-building task. Why it matters: The work highlights advancements in mobile manipulation and autonomous robotics, with potential applications in construction and infrastructure development in the region.