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Current projects

Information-driven distributed coordination of mobile sensor networks in dynamic scenarios
NSF, Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (Radhakisan S. Baheti)
NSF CAREER Award ECS-0546871

Summary

Mobile sensor networks hold the promise to provide the rich, in-situ spatio-temporal data needed to revolutionize the detection, estimation, and monitoring of dynamic natural phenomena. Controlled mobility integrated with distributed data fusion capabilities will enable sensor networks to provide broad spatial coverage, react to short-lived events in real time, and track key processes that occur away from fixed sites. The major objective of this project is the synthesis of scalable coordination algorithms for mobile networks performing spatially-distributed sensing tasks. Distributed strategies that maximize the information content of collected data will allow future sensor networks to adapt to changing conditions in a rapid, autonomous and optimal fashion. To make this vision a reality, this project addresses the distributed, in-situ aggregation of data collected by mobile networks in dynamic scenarios, and the information-driven, scalable coordination of the network mobility to optimally perform the required sensing tasks.

MRI: Development of an Autonomous Robotic Vehicle Instrument (ARVIN)
NSF, Division of Computer and Network Systems (Rita V. Rodriguez)
NSF Award CNS-0521675

Summary

This project, developing a platform for research and training to serve as an instrument for evaluating robotic subsystem and supersystem performance, accelerates and enhances the evolution of autonomous vehicle subsystems and component parts by providing a baseline instrument to measure and assess the performance and capabilities of the various portions of a given autonomous vehicle design. This Autonomous Robotic Vehicle Instrument (ARVIN) is designed to allow simultaneous, parallel operation of multiple instruments, actuators, and software/hardware subsystems. Due to the common environment in which the items are operating, the ARVIN yields a precise, robust metric of comparative performance and capability of the item in question. Inherently rapidly reconfigurable by design of its network-centric architecture, the ARVIN enables quick, easy substitutions and augmentations of sensors and actuators on the evaluation platform.

Past projects

Distributed formation control strategies for science imaging and interferometry
NASA UARC Aligned Research Program
NASA Award TO.030.MM.D

Summary

The objective of this proposal is to design and validate distributed control strategies for multiple spacecraft formation flying. NASA has identified multi-interferometer formation flying as an advanced technology critical to searching for new worlds and life outside our solar system. This research proposes to develop formation control algorithms that provide the spacecraft ensemble with formation initialization and tracking capabilities to target distant Earth-sized planets. The innovative technical approach relies on tools from distributed algorithms, emergent behaviors, automata-theoretic methods, nonsmooth optimization and invariance principles.

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego
9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, California, 92093-0411

cortes at ucsd.edu
Skype id: jorgilliyo