New Test Method for Evaluating Ground Robot Capabilities and Remote Operator Proficiency: Terrains: Crate Stepfields
1. Scope
This test method is intended for remotely operated ground robots operating in complex, unstructured, and often hazardous environments. It speci?es the apparatuses, procedures, and performance metrics necessary to measure the capability of a robot to traverse complex terrains in the form of stepfields fabricated with crates, including hills to climb and negative obstacles (i.e., holes) to avoid. These capabilities are more specifically targeted for legged robots. This test method is one of several related Terrain tests that can be used to evaluate overall system capabilities.
The robotics community needs ways to measure whether a particular robot is capable of performing specific missions in complex, unstructured, and often hazardous environments. These missions require various combinations of elemental robot capabilities. Each capability can be represented as a test method with an associated apparatus to provide tangible challenges for various mission requirements and performance metrics to communicate results. These test methods can then be combined and sequenced to evaluate essential robot capabilities and remote operator proficiencies necessary to successfully perform intended missions.
