View source for Robotics for Urban Traffic Support: Design, Prototyping, and Intelligent Interaction in Smart Cities

{{StudentProjectTemplate
|Summary=This proposal focuses on the application of robotics to enhance traffic safety and efficiency in smart cities. The research considers the interaction with VRU
|Keywords=Robotics, Smart Cities, Traffic Support, 3D Printing, Human-Robot Interaction, Vulnerable Road Users (VRU), Urban Safety
|Supervisor=ALEXANDRE DOS SANTOS ROQUE
|Level=Master
|Status=Open
}}
Summary: "This proposal focuses on the application of robotics to enhance traffic safety and efficiency in smart cities. The research will encompass the design and prototyping (potentially using 3D printing) of robots capable of interacting with people, vulnerable road users (VRU), and transit agents. It will explore robot communication with smart city infrastructure, regulatory considerations, and case studies highlighting their benefits in intense traffic, accident response, and VRU guidance, aiming to create safer urban environments."

Goals: To design, prototype, and evaluate robotic systems for smart city traffic support, enhancing safety for all road users, particularly in challenging urban scenarios, through intelligent interaction and integration with smart infrastructure.

Research Focus and Objectives: This thesis will focus on:

- Conceptual design and prototyping (e.g., 3D printing) of traffic support robots.
- Mechanisms for effective robot communication with smart city systems.
- Exploration of regulatory frameworks and ethical considerations for urban robot deployment.
- Analysis of case studies where robotic intervention improves safety and flow (e.g., congestion, accidents, VRU guidance).
- Investigating human-robot interaction principles for intuitive and safe engagement.

Methodology and Implementation: 
The research will combine conceptual design for various traffic robot types with rapid prototyping (e.g., 3D printing). 
Evaluation and study of communication protocols for robot interaction with smart city infrastructure, or simulation-based. An option is Traffic simulation softwares to model robotic impact in high-density traffic, accident response, and VRU guidance scenarios. Human-robot interaction strategies will be developed, and existing regulations for urban robot deployment will be reviewed. Communication protocols and the reliability dependency need to be considered.

Project Deliverables: 
Key deliverables include conceptual robot designs, a physical or simulated prototype, communication architecture designs, simulation results demonstrating positive impacts on traffic and safety, and a report on regulatory and ethical considerations.

Main Tasks:
Task 1: Conduct a literature review on urban robotics, smart city traffic management, human-robot interaction (HRI), and 3D printing applications in robotics.
Task 2: Develop conceptual designs for traffic support robots targeting specific urban challenges (e.g., traffic intensity, accidents, VRU guidance).
Task 3: Investigate and apply 3D printing or other rapid prototyping techniques to create a physical or detailed virtual prototype of a selected robot design.
Task 4: Design and simulate communication protocols for seamless integration of robots with existing smart city infrastructure and traffic management systems.
Task 5: Model and simulate various urban scenarios (e.g., peak hour traffic, accident response, pedestrian crossing assistance) to evaluate the impact of robotic intervention on safety and efficiency.
Task 6: Analyze current regulations and propose guidelines or recommendations for the safe and effective deployment of urban traffic support robots.
Task 7: Evaluate the effectiveness of the robot's interactions with people, VRUs, and transit agents in simulated or controlled environments.
Task 8: Finalize thesis document and prepare for academic dissemination.

Deliverables (Besides the final thesis document):

Detailed conceptual designs and technical specifications for urban traffic support robots.
A physical or simulated prototype of a key robotic component or full system.
Design of communication architecture for robot integration with smart city systems.
Simulation results demonstrating improvements in traffic flow, safety, and VRU protection due to robotic intervention.
A comprehensive report on regulatory, ethical, and societal considerations for urban robotics deployment.

Evaluation Criteria:

Innovation and practicality of the robot designs and prototyping approach.
Measurable improvements in traffic safety and efficiency demonstrated through simulations.
The robustness and scalability of the robot's communication and integration capabilities within smart city ecosystems.
The depth of analysis of regulatory challenges and the utility of proposed guidelines for urban robotics.