Pebbles: User-Configurable Device Network for Robot Navigation

This study proposes devices suitable for use by non-experts to design robot navigation routes. The user places landmarks, called pebbles, on the floor to tell navigation routes to a robot. Using infrared communication, the pebbles automatically generate navigation routes. The system is designed such that nonexpert users can understand the system status to configure the user’s target environment without expert assistance. During deployment, the system provides LED and voice feedback. The user can confirm that the devices are appropriately placed for the construction of a desired navigation network. In addition, because there is a device at each destination, our method can name locations by associating a device ID with a particular name. A user study showed that nonexpert users were able to understand device usage and construct robot navigation routes.