Author Description

The book is the outcome of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Sensors and Sensory Systems for Advanced Robots held in Maratea, Italy, in April-May 1986. The focus is on a review of the state of the art and perspectives of sensor technology for robots. In this framework, particular attention is devoted to the study of basic principles and of problems related to the design and fabrication of different types of sensors already used, or potentially usable, for robots. An additional distinctive feature of the book is that it emphasizes the interdisciplinarity of advanced robotics by including the contributions of a number of top researchers in the fields of neurophysiology, psychology, biophysics, sensor science, mechanical, chemical, electronic and biomedical engineering, computer science and automatic control. The problem of using multiple sensory information for sensor-based robot control is also addressed with reference to some practical examples. The book provides solid information on transducer science and technology for robots, particularly useful to the industrial robot practitioner, and is also stimulating and interesting as an introduction to the study of artificial sensory systems for those who are more attracted by applications in the field of advanced robotics.