Alternate email: raulcorreal (at) hotmail (dot) com

Bio

Raul Correal is an associate researcher at the Systems Engineering and Automation department at the University Carlos III of Madrid since Nov. 2002, when he started doing research in the area of Control of Assistive Robotics. Since then he’s been involved in several projects and research activities.

He received his Technical Engineering in Computer Systems Sciences from the University Polytechnic of Madrid in 1998, a Superior Computer Science Engineering degree from UNED University in 2005 and a MS in Computer Sciences and Intelligent Robotics from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2007.

His research interests include mobile robots, planetary exploration rovers, autonomy, outdoor navigation, computer vision, human-robot interaction, multi-robot cooperation and machine learning.

Research

My research interests are mainly robotics, autonomy and AI. I’ve been working in three main areas:

<![if !supportLists]>· <![endif]>Assistive Robotics

<![if !supportLists]>· <![endif]>Service Robotics

<![if !supportLists]>· <![endif]>Space Robotics

Lately I’m focused in outdoor autonomous navigation, non-structured rough terrain or road/urban environments, computer vision, robots in human environments and its interaction, multi-robot cooperation, decision-making and machine learning.

Assistive Robotics

Devices for disabled, elderly and users with specials need to assist in daily activities such as shaving, eating, teeth brushing, grasping objects, etc. with the main purpose of improving their quality of life and increase their independence.

Projects

MATS. Developed at the Systems Engineering and Automation department, University Carlos III of Madrid.

ASIBOT. Developed at the Systems Engineering and Automation department, University Carlos III of Madrid.

The purpose of these two projects is the development of robotic assistive technology to help elderly and disabled people in its daily tasks such as shaving, eating, drinking, grasp objects, etc. in order to increase their level of independency. Concretely, it consists of a climbing-manipulator robotic device, able of moving through the environment (e.g.: home, work, etc.) using specially designed connectors installed in walls and ceiling. That way, it avoids saturating the floor space, what is very valuable for a wheelchair user.

Links

Some Pics

More Pics

Keywords

Assistive Robotics, Control Architectures, Human-Robot Interaction, Onboard Software, Voice Recognition & Speech Synthesis, Wireless Communications.

Service Robotics

Robots designed to provide a concrete service such as cleaning, surveillance, agriculture, construction, entertaining, etc.

Projects

Tourguide. Developed at the Interaction Lab, University of Southern California. The purpose of the Touguide project is to develop technology able to offer a tour to different visitors at any moment. In this case, a robot will be in charge of welcoming visitors in the lab and give them a tour and explanations about what research work is being carried out within the lab by students and researchers.

Links

Some Pics

My website at the Interaction Lab (USC)

Keywords

Autonomous Navigation, Collision Avoidance, Visual Pattern Recognition, Speech Synthesis, Human-Robot Interaction

Space Robotics

Focusing in autonomous navigation for planetary exploration rovers and computer stereo vision.

Projects

Autorover. Developed at the Roverlab, TCP Sistemas e Ingenieria, aerospace division. The purpose of the Autorover project is to develop technology that allows increasing the level of autonomy onboard planetary exploration rovers, mainly for Mars and the Moon. In its early stages it’s focused in setting the necessary framework to allow these developments, in the sense of simulation, control center and ground station, communication links, etc. The second project objective is the development of the necessary algorithms to achieve full autonomous navigation. It implies computer stereo vision to get depth information, Digital Elevation Map building, path planning, trajectory execution and obstacle avoidance, replanning, etc.

The ultimate goal is to achieve onboard mission-level autonomy, having a rover able to make its own decision, task planning and scheduling and contingency management, maximizing the scientific return of the mission.

Links

Some Pics

Keywords

Planetary Exploration Rovers, Autonomous Navigation in Rough Terrain, Computer Stereovision, Obstacle Avoidance, Artificial Intelligence, 3D Terrain Mapping (DEMs), Path Planning, Trajectory Execution, Sensor Processing, Collision Avoidance, Planetary Environment/Rover Modeling and Simulation, and Onboard Software Architecture Design.