CTC validates the robotic system looking to automate the collection of information in companies’ accessibility assessments

The CTC Technology Centre has just validated the prototype developed within the DALCOBot project in a real environment, with promising results. It is a mobile, sensorised robotic solution that will automate the collection of information during company accessibility audits and inspections.

Specifically, DALCOBot’s main objective is to automate the tasks of taking geometric measurements of the interior spaces of companies and collecting graphic material of mandatory safety signage, such as fire extinguishers or emergency exits.

The tool developed by CTC is based on a mobile autonomous robotic platform that combines LiDAR sensors to know in real time the exact position of key points and the distance between them, with Artificial Intelligence techniques to recognise objects and signs. The validated prototype accurately generates colour maps with details of the depth and distance of the environment and objects and the location of safety signage that should be in the room.

All these data assess the level of accessibility of businesses, further analyse the environment (whether it is accessible to people) and help detect irregularities that may hinder the movement of staff and visitors. This solution also saves time for inspectors, who can focus on more complex tasks that require human training.

CTC is working on the last phase of the project to assess the outcome. In this sense, the technology centre is studying the possibility of adapting the tool to conduct general and routine inspections in companies, those that might not be limited to accessibility, and gathering information on the condition of infrastructures, mainly in narrow or dangerous places for workers.

The DALCOBot project has been funded within the call for R&D Projects in the ICT 2020 sector, promoted by SODERCAN and is linked to the Digital Transformation and Social and Territorial Cohesion axes of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. Also, through this initiative, the technological centre continues to develop its expertise within the Navigation and Robotics area, yielding significant robotic solutions such as GreenPatrol.