Real-time Autonomous Robot for Object Tracking using Vision System

TL;DR

This paper presents a real-time vision-based mobile robot capable of detecting, tracking, and following a moving object, specifically a tennis ball, using image processing algorithms and a webcam for indoor navigation.

Contribution

The work introduces an integrated vision system with real-time image processing for object tracking in mobile robots, combining a webcam, mini-laptop, and microcontroller.

Findings

Successfully tracked and followed a tennis ball based on color and shape.

Real-time processing enabled effective object detection and robot navigation.

Demonstrated feasibility of vision-based control in indoor mobile robots.

Abstract

Researchers and robotic development groups have recently started paying special attention to autonomous mobile robot navigation in indoor environments using vision sensors. The required data is provided for robot navigation and object detection using a camera as a sensor. The aim of the project is to construct a mobile robot that has integrated vision system capability used by a webcam to locate, track and follow a moving object. To achieve this task, multiple image processing algorithms are implemented and processed in real-time. A mini-laptop was used for collecting the necessary data to be sent to a PIC microcontroller that turns the processes of data obtained to provide the robot's proper orientation. A vision system can be utilized in object recognition for robot control applications. The results demonstrate that the proposed mobile robot can be successfully operated through a webcam that detects the object and distinguishes a tennis ball based on its color and shape.