EPOROCassi Macapinlac

MIS 304 / Prof Fang Fang

BY

WHAT IS EPORO? Episode Zero Robot: a vehicle that produces

zero emissions and is free of accidents In 2008, Nissan unveiled a new Biomimetic

car robot called the BR23C concept. This year, Nissan has taken the concept to a

new level with “fish-inspired technology.” The EPORO robot car concepts, which are

designed to travel in a group of like-vehicles, mimic the patterns of a school of fish to avoid obstacles without bumping into each other.

Made their debut at CEATEC Japan 2009

HOW DOES EPORO WORK?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSIGbEn9Swo

HOW DOES EPORO WORK? Behavior of schools of fish were studied

Fish have eyes on the sides of their head giving them excellent peripheral vision allowing them to travel in close proximity without

smacking into one another. 

This provides an excellent defense against predators, since the entire group can sense when evasive action is necessary, and which direction to head.

In EPORO, a laser range finder*4 is used for lateral-line sense, while UWB*5 communications technology is utilized for the sense of sight.

HOW DOES EPORO WORK? Fish Behavior Rules

AREA 1: Collision AvoidanceChange traveling direction without colliding with other fish.

AREA 2: Traveling Side-by-SideTravel side-by-side with other fish while keeping a certain distance between each fish (to match the speed).

AREA 3: ApproachingGain closer proximity to other fish that are at a distance from them.

WHAT SETS EPORO APART

In EPORO, Nissan recreated the behavior of a school of fish making full use of cutting-edge electronic technologies.

By sharing the surrounding information received, EPOROs can travel safely, changing its direction as needed.

This is the world's first development of a robot car that can travel in a group by sharing the position and information of others within a group via communication technologies.

THE FUTURE POSITIVES

Nissan's ongoing research aims at creating collision-free vehicles based on its safety concept "Safety Shield*6.”

New technologies used in EPORO: aim to improve

migration efficiency of a group of vehicles

contribute to an environmentally friendly and traffic jam-free driving environment.

NEGATIVES Much left to learn

from the behavior of a school of fish: Individual fish's

degree of freedom and safety within a school

High migration efficiency of a school itself.

This technology is not expected to be used widespread for another 30 years.

Nissan has yet to collaborate with other companies to maximize the potential of this technology.

REFERENCES http://www.plasticpals.com/?p=14769 http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/NEWS/2009/_

STORY/091001-01-e.html http

://www.engadget.com/2009/10/06/video-nissans-eporo-robot-car-heads-to-the-races-slow-and-ste/

QUESTIONS ?