@phdthesis{Zeiger2010,
  author    = {Zeiger, Florian},
  title     = {Internet Protocol based networking of mobile robots},
  isbn      = {978-3-923959-59-4},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-4661},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-54776},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {This work is composed of three main parts: remote control of mobile systems via Internet, ad-hoc networks of mobile robots, and remote control of mobile robots via 3G telecommunication technologies. The first part gives a detailed state of the art and a discussion of the problems to be solved in order to teleoperate mobile robots via the Internet. The focus of the application to be realized is set on a distributed tele-laboratory with remote experiments on mobile robots which can be accessed world-wide via the Internet. Therefore, analyses of the communication link are used in order to realize a robust system. The developed and implemented architecture of this distributed tele-laboratory allows for a smooth access also with a variable or low link quality. The second part covers the application of ad-hoc networks for mobile robots. The networking of mobile robots via mobile ad-hoc networks is a very promising approach to realize integrated telematic systems without relying on preexisting communication infrastructure. Relevant civilian application scenarios are for example in the area of search and rescue operations where first responders are supported by multi-robot systems. Here, mobile robots, humans, and also existing stationary sensors can be connected very fast and efficient. Therefore, this work investigates and analyses the performance of different ad-hoc routing protocols for IEEE 802.11 based wireless networks in relevant scenarios. The analysis of the different protocols allows for an optimization of the parameter settings in order to use these ad-hoc routing protocols for mobile robot teleoperation. Also guidelines for the realization of such telematics systems are given. Also traffic shaping mechanisms of application layer are presented which allow for a more efficient use of the communication link. An additional application scenario, the integration of a small size helicopter into an IP based ad-hoc network, is presented. The teleoperation of mobile robots via 3G telecommunication technologies is addressed in the third part of this work. The high availability, high mobility, and the high bandwidth provide a very interesting opportunity to realize scenarios for the teleoperation of mobile robots or industrial remote maintenance. This work analyses important parameters of the UMTS communication link and investigates also the characteristics for different data streams. These analyses are used to give guidelines which are necessary for the realization of or industrial remote maintenance or mobile robot teleoperation scenarios. All the results and guidelines for the design of telematic systems in this work were derived from analyses and experiments with real hardware.},
  subject      = {Robotik},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Xu2014,
  author    = {Xu, Zhihao},
  title     = {Cooperative Formation Controller Design for Time-Delay and Optimality Problems},
  isbn      = {978-3-923959-96-9},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-10555},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-105555},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {This dissertation presents controller design methodologies for a formation of cooperative mobile robots to perform trajectory tracking and convoy protection tasks. Two major problems related to multi-agent formation control are addressed, namely the time-delay and optimality problems. For the task of trajectory tracking, a leader-follower based system structure is adopted for the controller design, where the selection criteria for controller parameters are derived through analyses of characteristic polynomials. The resulting parameters ensure the stability of the system and overcome the steady-state error as well as the oscillation behavior under time-delay effect. In the convoy protection scenario, a decentralized coordination strategy for balanced deployment of mobile robots is first proposed. Based on this coordination scheme, optimal controller parameters are generated in both centralized and decentralized fashion to achieve dynamic convoy protection in a unified framework, where distributed optimization technique is applied in the decentralized strategy. This unified framework takes into account the motion of the target to be protected, and the desired system performance, for instance, minimal energy to spend, equal inter-vehicle distance to keep, etc. Both trajectory tracking and convoy protection tasks are demonstrated through simulations and real-world hardware experiments based on the robotic equipment at Department of Computer Science VII, University of W{\"u}rzburg.},
  subject      = {Optimalwertregelung},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{Werner2024,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {Werner, Lennart},
  title     = {Terrain Mapping for Autonomous Navigation of Lunar Rovers},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-35826},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-358268},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2024},
  abstract  = {Autonomous mobile robots operating in unknown terrain have to guide their drive decisions through local perception. Local mapping and traversability analysis is essential for safe rover operation and low level locomotion. This thesis deals with the challenge of building a local, robot centric map from ultra short baseline stereo imagery for height and traversability estimation. Several grid-based, incremental mapping algorithms are compared and evaluated in a multi size, multi resolution framework. A new, covariance based mapping update is introduced, which is capable of detecting sub- cellsize obstacles and abstracts the terrain of one cell as a first order surface. The presented mapping setup is capable of producing reliable ter- rain and traversability estimates under the conditions expected for the Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Exploreration (CADRE) mission. Algorithmic- and software architecture design targets high reliability and efficiency for meeting the tight constraints implied by CADRE's small on-board embedded CPU. Extensive evaluations are conducted to find possible edge-case scenar- ios in the operating envelope of the map and to confirm performance parameters. The research in this thesis targets the CADRE mission, but is applicable to any form of mobile robotics which require height- and traversability mapping.},
  subject      = {Mondfahrzeug},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Wagner2023,
  author    = {Wagner, Jan Cetric},
  title     = {Maximalnetzplan zur reaktiven Steuerung von Produktionsabl{\"a}ufen},
  isbn      = {978-3-945459-43-0},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-30545},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-305452},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  pages     = {182},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {In produzierenden Unternehmen werden verschiedene Vorgehensweisen zur Planung, {\"U}berwachung und Steuerung von Produktionsabl{\"a}ufen eingesetzt. Einer dieser Methoden wird als Vorgangsknotennetzplantechnik bezeichnet. Die einzelnen Produktionsschritte werden als Knoten definiert und durch Pfeile miteinander verbunden. Die Pfeile stellen die Beziehungen der jeweiligen Vorg{\"a}nge zueinander und damit den Produktionsablauf dar. Diese Technik erlaubt den Anwendern einen umfassenden {\"U}berblick {\"u}ber die einzelnen Prozessrelationen. Zus{\"a}tzlich k{\"o}nnen mit ihr Vorgangszeiten und Produktfertigstellungszeiten ermittelt werden, wodurch eine ausf{\"u}hrliche Planung der Produktion erm{\"o}glicht wird. Ein Nachteil dieser Technik begr{\"u}ndet sich in der alleinigen Darstellung einer ausf{\"u}hrbaren Prozessabfolge. Im Falle eines St{\"o}rungseintritts mit der Folge eines nicht durchf{\"u}hrbaren Vorgangs muss von dem origin{\"a}ren Prozess abgewichen werden. Aufgrund dessen wird eine Neuplanung erforderlich. Es werden Alternativen f{\"u}r den gest{\"o}rten Vorgang ben{\"o}tigt, um eine Fortf{\"u}hrung des Prozesses ungeachtet der St{\"o}rung zu erreichen. Innerhalb dieser Arbeit wird daher eine Erweiterung der Vorgangsknotennetzplantechnik beschrieben, die es erlaubt, erg{\"a}nzend zu dem geplanten Soll-Prozess Alternativvorg{\"a}nge f{\"u}r einzelne Vorg{\"a}nge darzulegen. Diese Methode wird als Maximalnetzplan bezeichnet. Die Alternativen werden im Falle eines St{\"o}rungseintritts automatisch evaluiert und dem Anwender in priorisierter Reihenfolge pr{\"a}sentiert. Durch die Verwendung des Maximalnetzplans kann eine aufwendige Neuplanung vermieden werden. Als Anwendungsbeispiel dient ein Montageprozess, mithilfe dessen die Verwendbarkeit der Methode dargelegt wird. Weiterf{\"u}hrend zeigt eine zeitliche Analyse zufallsbedingter Maximalnetzpl{\"a}ne eine Begr{\"u}ndung zur Durchf{\"u}hrung von Alternativen und damit den Nutzen des Maximalnetzplans auf. Zus{\"a}tzlich sei angemerkt, dass innerhalb dieser Arbeit verwendete Begrifflichkeiten wie Anwender, Werker oder Mitarbeiter in maskuliner Schreibweise niedergeschrieben werden. Dieses ist ausschließlich der Einfachheit geschuldet und nicht dem Zweck der Diskriminierung anderer Geschlechter dienlich. Die verwendete Schreibweise soll alle Geschlechter ansprechen, ob m{\"a}nnlich, weiblich oder divers.},
  subject      = {Produktionsplanung},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Tzschichholz2014,
  author    = {Tzschichholz, Tristan},
  title     = {Relative pose estimation of known rigid objects using a novel approach to high-level PMD-/CCD- sensor data fusion with regard to applications in space},
  isbn      = {978-3-923959-95-2},
  issn      = {1868-7474},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-10391},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-103918},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {In this work, a novel method for estimating the relative pose of a known object is presented, which relies on an application-specific data fusion process. A PMD-sensor in conjunction with a CCD-sensor is used to perform the pose estimation. Furthermore, the work provides a method for extending the measurement range of the PMD sensor along with the necessary calibration methodology. Finally, extensive measurements on a very accurate Rendezvous and Docking testbed are made to evaluate the performance, what includes a detailed discussion of lighting conditions.},
  subject      = {Bildverarbeitung},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Sun2014,
  author    = {Sun, Kaipeng},
  title     = {Six Degrees of Freedom Object Pose Estimation with Fusion Data from a Time-of-flight Camera and a Color Camera},
  isbn      = {978-3-923959-97-6},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-10508},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-105089},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Object six Degrees of Freedom (6DOF) pose estimation is a fundamental problem in many practical robotic applications, where the target or an obstacle with a simple or complex shape can move fast in cluttered environments. In this thesis, a 6DOF pose estimation algorithm is developed based on the fused data from a time-of-flight camera and a color camera. The algorithm is divided into two stages, an annealed particle filter based coarse pose estimation stage and a gradient decent based accurate pose optimization stage. In the first stage, each particle is evaluated with sparse representation. In this stage, the large inter-frame motion of the target can be well handled. In the second stage, the range data based conventional Iterative Closest Point is extended by incorporating the target appearance information and used for calculating the accurate pose by refining the coarse estimate from the first stage. For dealing with significant illumination variations during the tracking, spherical harmonic illumination modeling is investigated and integrated into both stages. The robustness and accuracy of the proposed algorithm are demonstrated through experiments on various objects in both indoor and outdoor environments. Moreover, real-time performance can be achieved with graphics processing unit acceleration.},
  subject      = {Mustererkennung},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Schmidt2011,
  author    = {Schmidt, Marco},
  title     = {Ground Station Networks for Efficient Operation of Distributed Small Satellite Systems},
  isbn      = {978-3-923959-77-8},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-4984},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-64999},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {The field of small satellite formations and constellations attracted growing attention, based on recent advances in small satellite engineering. The utilization of distributed space systems allows the realization of innovative applications and will enable improved temporal and spatial resolution in observation scenarios. On the other side, this new paradigm imposes a variety of research challenges. In this monograph new networking concepts for space missions are presented, using networks of ground stations. The developed approaches combine ground station resources in a coordinated way to achieve more robust and efficient communication links. Within this thesis, the following topics were elaborated to improve the performance in distributed space missions: Appropriate scheduling of contact windows in a distributed ground system is a necessary process to avoid low utilization of ground stations. The theoretical basis for the novel concept of redundant scheduling was elaborated in detail. Additionally to the presented algorithm was a scheduling system implemented, its performance was tested extensively with real world scheduling problems. In the scope of data management, a system was developed which autonomously synchronizes data frames in ground station networks and uses this information to detect and correct transmission errors. The system was validated with hardware in the loop experiments, demonstrating the benefits of the developed approach.},
  subject      = {Kleinsatellit},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{SchauerMarinRodrigues2020,
  author    = {Schauer Marin Rodrigues, Johannes},
  title     = {Detecting Changes and Finding Collisions in 3D Point Clouds : Data Structures and Algorithms for Post-Processing Large Datasets},
  isbn      = {978-3-945459-32-4},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-21428},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-214285},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Affordable prices for 3D laser range finders and mature software solutions for registering multiple point clouds in a common coordinate system paved the way for new areas of application for 3D point clouds. Nowadays we see 3D laser scanners being used not only by digital surveying experts but also by law enforcement officials, construction workers or archaeologists. Whether the purpose is digitizing factory production lines, preserving historic sites as digital heritage or recording environments for gaming or virtual reality applications -- it is hard to imagine a scenario in which the final point cloud must also contain the points of "moving" objects like factory workers, pedestrians, cars or flocks of birds. For most post-processing tasks, moving objects are undesirable not least because moving objects will appear in scans multiple times or are distorted due to their motion relative to the scanner rotation. The main contributions of this work are two postprocessing steps for already registered 3D point clouds. The first method is a new change detection approach based on a voxel grid which allows partitioning the input points into static and dynamic points using explicit change detection and subsequently remove the latter for a "cleaned" point cloud. The second method uses this cleaned point cloud as input for detecting collisions between points of the environment point cloud and a point cloud of a model that is moved through the scene. Our approach on explicit change detection is compared to the state of the art using multiple datasets including the popular KITTI dataset. We show how our solution achieves similar or better F1-scores than an existing solution while at the same time being faster. To detect collisions we do not produce a mesh but approximate the raw point cloud data by spheres or cylindrical volumes. We show how our data structures allow efficient nearest neighbor queries that make our CPU-only approach comparable to a massively-parallel algorithm running on a GPU. The utilized algorithms and data structures are discussed in detail. All our software is freely available for download under the terms of the GNU General Public license. Most of the datasets used in this thesis are freely available as well. We provide shell scripts that allow one to directly reproduce the quantitative results shown in this thesis for easy verification of our findings.},
  subject      = {Punktwolke},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Scharnagl2022,
  author    = {Scharnagl, Julian},
  title     = {Distributed Guidance, Navigation and Control for Satellite Formation Flying Missions},
  isbn      = {978-3-945459-42-3},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-28753},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-287530},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Ongoing changes in spaceflight - continuing miniaturization, declining costs of rocket launches and satellite components, and improved satellite computing and control capabilities - are advancing Satellite Formation Flying (SFF) as a research and application area. SFF enables new applications that cannot be realized (or cannot be realized at a reasonable cost) with conventional single-satellite missions. In particular, distributed Earth observation applications such as photogrammetry and tomography or distributed space telescopes require precisely placed and controlled satellites in orbit. Several enabling technologies are required for SFF, such as inter-satellite communication, precise attitude control, and in-orbit maneuverability. However, one of the most important requirements is a reliable distributed Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) strategy. This work addresses the issue of distributed GNC for SFF in 3D with a focus on Continuous Low-Thrust (CLT) propulsion satellites (e.g., with electric thrusters) and concentrates on circular low Earth orbits. However, the focus of this work is not only on control theory, but control is considered as part of the system engineering process of typical small satellite missions. Thus, common sensor and actuator systems are analyzed to derive their characteristics and their impacts on formation control. This serves as the basis for the design, implementation, and evaluation of the following control approaches: First, a Model Predictive Control (MPC) method with specific adaptations to SFF and its requirements and constraints; second, a distributed robust controller that combines consensus methods for distributed system control and \$H_{\infty}\$ robust control; and finally, a controller that uses plant inversion for control and combines it with a reference governor to steer the controller to the target on an optimal trajectory considering several constraints. The developed controllers are validated and compared based on extensive software simulations. Realistic 3D formation flight scenarios were taken from the Networked Pico-Satellite Distributed System Control (NetSat) cubesat formation flight mission. The three compared methods show different advantages and disadvantages in the different application scenarios. The distributed robust consensus-based controller for example lacks the ability to limit the maximum thrust, so it is not suitable for satellites with CLT. But both the MPC-based approach and the plant inversionbased controller are suitable for CLT SFF applications, while showing again distinct advantages and disadvantages in different scenarios. The scientific contribution of this work may be summarized as the creation of novel and specific control approaches for the class of CLT SFF applications, which is still lacking methods withstanding the application in real space missions, as well as the scientific evaluation and comparison of the developed methods.},
  subject      = {Kleinsatellit},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Sauer2010,
  author    = {Sauer, Markus},
  title     = {Mixed-Reality for Enhanced Robot Teleoperation},
  isbn      = {978-3-923959-67-9},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-4666},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-55083},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {In den letzten Jahren ist die Forschung in der Robotik soweit fortgeschritten, dass die Mensch-Maschine Schnittstelle zunehmend die kritischste Komponente f{\"u}r eine hohe Gesamtperformanz von Systemen zur Navigation und Koordination von Robotern wird. In dieser Dissertation wird untersucht wie Mixed-Reality Technologien f{\"u}r Nutzerschnittstellen genutzt werden k{\"o}nnen, um diese Gesamtperformanz zu erh{\"o}hen. Hierzu werden Konzepte und Technologien entwickelt, die durch Evaluierung mit Nutzertest ein optimiertes und anwenderbezogenes Design von Mixed-Reality Nutzerschnittstellen erm{\"o}glichen. Er werden somit sowohl die technische Anforderungen als auch die menschlichen Faktoren f{\"u}r ein konsistentes Systemdesign ber{\"u}cksichtigt. Nach einer detaillierten Problemanalyse und der Erstellung eines Systemmodels, das den Menschen als Schl{\"u}sselkomponente mit einbezieht, wird zun{\"a}chst die Anwendung der neuartigen 3D-Time-of-Flight Kamera zur Navigation von Robotern, aber auch f{\"u}r den Einsatz in Mixed-Reality Schnittstellen analysiert und optimiert. Weiterhin wird gezeigt, wie sich der Netzwerkverkehr des Videostroms als wichtigstes Informationselement der meisten Nutzerschnittstellen f{\"u}r die Navigationsaufgabe auf der Netzwerk Applikationsebene in typischen Multi-Roboter Netzwerken mit dynamischen Topologien und Lastsituation optimieren l{\"a}sst. Hierdurch ist es m{\"o}glich in sonst in sonst typischen Ausfallszenarien den Videostrom zu erhalten und die Bildrate zu stabilisieren. Diese fortgeschrittenen Technologien werden dann auch dem entwickelten Konzept der generischen 3D Mixed Reality Schnittselle eingesetzt. Dieses Konzept erm{\"o}glicht eine integrierte 3D Darstellung der verf{\"u}gbaren Information, so dass r{\"a}umliche Beziehungen von Informationen aufrechterhalten werden und somit die Anzahl der mentalen Transformationen beim menschlichen Bediener reduziert wird. Gleichzeitig werden durch diesen Ansatz auch immersive Stereo Anzeigetechnologien unterst{\"u}tzt, welche zus{\"a}tzlich das r{\"a}umliche Verst{\"a}ndnis der entfernten Situation f{\"o}rdern. Die in der Dissertation vorgestellten und evaluierten Ans{\"a}tze nutzen auch die Tatsache, dass sich eine lokale Autonomie von Robotern heute sehr robust realisieren l{\"a}sst. Dies wird zum Beispiel zur Realisierung eines Assistenzsystems mit variabler Autonomie eingesetzt. Hierbei erh{\"a}lt der Fernbediener {\"u}ber eine Kraftr{\"u}ckkopplung kombiniert mit einer integrierten Augmented Reality Schnittstelle, einen Eindruck {\"u}ber die Situation am entfernten Arbeitsbereich, aber auch {\"u}ber die aktuelle Navigationsintention des Roboters. Die durchgef{\"u}hrten Nutzertests belegen die signifikante Steigerung der Navigationsperformanz durch den entwickelten Ansatz. Die robuste lokale Autonomie erm{\"o}glicht auch den in der Dissertation eingef{\"u}hrten Ansatz der pr{\"a}diktiven Mixed-Reality Schnittstelle. Die durch diesen Ansatz entkoppelte Regelschleife {\"u}ber den Menschen erm{\"o}glicht es die Sichtbarkeit von unvermeidbaren Systemverz{\"o}gerungen signifikant zu reduzieren. Zus{\"a}tzlich k{\"o}nnen durch diesen Ansatz beide f{\"u}r die Navigation hilfreichen Blickwinkel in einer 3D-Nutzerschnittstelle kombiniert werden - der exozentrische Blickwinkel und der egozentrische Blickwinkel als Augmented Reality Sicht.},
  subject      = {Mobiler Roboter},
  language  = {en}
}