This book describes in a detailed fashion the application of hybrid intelligent systems using soft computing techniques for intelligent control and mobile robotics. Soft Computing (SC) consists of several intelligent computing paradigms, including fuzzy logic, neural networks, and bio-inspired optimization algorithms, which can be used to produce powerful hybrid intelligent systems. The prudent combination of SC techniques can produce powerful hybrid intelligent systems that are capable of solving real-world problems. This is illustrated in this book with a wide range of applications, with particular emphasis in intelligent control and mobile robotics. The book is organized in five main parts, which contain a group of papers around a similar subject. The first part consists of papers with the main theme of theory and algorithms, which are basically papers that propose new models and concepts, which can be the basis for achieving intelligent control and mobile robotics. The second part contains papers with the main theme of intelligent control, which are basically papers using bio-inspired techniques, like evolutionary algorithms and neural networks, for achieving intelligent control of non-linear plants. The third part contains papers with the theme of optimization of fuzzy controllers, which basically consider the application of bio-inspired optimization methods to automate the de-sign process of optimal type-1 and type-2 fuzzy controllers. The fourth part contains papers that deal with the application of SC techniques in times series prediction and intelligent agents. The fifth part contains papers with the theme of computer vision and robotics, which are papers considering soft computing methods for applications related to vision and robotics.

Soft computing, as a collection of techniques exploiting approximation and tolerance for imprecision and uncertainty in traditionally intractable problems, has become very effective and popular especially because of the synergy derived from its components. The integration of constituent technologies provides complementary methods that allow developing flexible computing tools and solving complex problems. A wide area of natural applications of soft computing techniques consists of the control of dynamic systems, including robots. Loosely speaking, control can be understood as driving a process to attain a desired goal. Intelligent control can be seen as an extension of this concept, to include autonomous human-like interactions of a machine with the environment. Intelligent robots can be characterized by the ability to operate in an uncertain, changing environment with the help of appropriate sensing. They have the power to autonomously plan and execute motion sequences to achieve a goal specified by a human user without detailed instructions. In this volume leading specialists address various theoretical and practical aspects in soft computing, intelligent robotics and control. The problems discussed are taken from fuzzy systems, neural networks, interactive evolutionary computation, intelligent mobile robotics, and intelligent control of linear and nonlinear dynamic systems.

As robotic systems make their way into standard practice, they have opened the door to a wide spectrum of complex applications. Such applications usually demand that the robots be highly intelligent. Future robots are likely to have greater sensory capabilities, more intelligence, higher levels of manual dexter ity, and adequate mobility, compared to humans. In order to ensure high-quality control and performance in robotics, new intelligent control techniques must be developed, which are capable of coping with task complexity, multi-objective decision making, large volumes of perception data and substantial amounts of heuristic information. Hence, the pursuit of intelligent autonomous robotic systems has been a topic of much fascinating research in recent years. On the other hand, as emerging technologies, Soft Computing paradigms consisting of complementary elements of Fuzzy Logic, Neural Computing and Evolutionary Computation are viewed as the most promising methods towards intelligent robotic systems. Due to their strong learning and cognitive ability and good tolerance of uncertainty and imprecision, Soft Computing techniques have found wide application in the area of intelligent control of robotic systems.

This book describes in a detailed fashion the application of hybrid intelligent systems using soft computing techniques for intelligent control and mobile robotics. Soft Computing (SC) consists of several intelligent computing paradigms, including fuzzy logic, neural networks, and bio-inspired optimization algorithms, which can be used to produce powerful hybrid intelligent systems. The prudent combination of SC techniques can produce powerful hybrid intelligent systems that are capable of solving real-world problems. This is illustrated in this book with a wide range of applications, with particular emphasis in intelligent control and mobile robotics. The book is organized in five main parts, which contain a group of papers around a similar subject. The first part consists of papers with the main theme of theory and algorithms, which are basically papers that propose new models and concepts, which can be the basis for achieving intelligent control and mobile robotics. The second part contains papers with the main theme of intelligent control, which are basically papers using bio-inspired techniques, like evolutionary algorithms and neural networks, for achieving intelligent control of non-linear plants. The third part contains papers with the theme of optimization of fuzzy controllers, which basically consider the application of bio-inspired optimization methods to automate the de-sign process of optimal type-1 and type-2 fuzzy controllers. The fourth part contains papers that deal with the application of SC techniques in times series prediction and intelligent agents. The fifth part contains papers with the theme of computer vision and robotics, which are papers considering soft computing methods for applications related to vision and robotics.

Intelligent system and robotics are inevitably bound up; intelligent robots makes embodiment of system integration by using the intelligent systems. We can figure out that intelligent systems are to cell units, while intelligent robots are to body components. The two technologies have been synchronized in progress. Making leverage of the robotics and intelligent systems, applications cover boundlessly the range from our daily life to space station; manufacturing, healthcare, environment, energy, education, personal assistance, logistics. This book aims at presenting the research results in relevance with intelligent robotics technology. We propose to researchers and practitioners some methods to advance the intelligent systems and apply them to advanced robotics technology. This book consists of 10 contributions that feature mobile robots, robot emotion, electric power steering, multi-agent, fuzzy visual navigation, adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system, swarm EKF localization and inspection robot. This edition is published in original, peer reviewed contributions covering from initial design to final prototypes and authorization.

Robotics is an ever-expanding field and intelligent planning continues to play a major role. Given that the intention of mobile robots is to carry out tasks independent from human aid, robot intelligence is needed to make and plan out decisions based on various sensors. Planning is the fundamental activity that implements this intelligence into the mobile robots to complete such tasks. Understanding problems, challenges, and solutions to path planning and how it fits in is important to the realm of robotics. Intelligent Planning for Mobile Robotics: Algorithmic Approaches presents content coverage on the basics of artificial intelligence, search problems, and soft computing approaches. This collection of research provides insight on both robotics and basic algorithms and could serve as a reference book for courses related to robotics, special topics in AI, planning, applied soft computing, applied AI, and applied evolutionary computing. It is an ideal choice for research students, scholars, and professors alike.