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In this paper, a new hybrid stereovision-based distance-estimation approach is proposed for indoor mobile robot platforms. To calculate the distances between the robot and object, triangulation method is used first. However, this technique is insufficient for objects located on the left or right side of the robot or the case of the stereo camera pair fixed to the robot with an angle down to the floor. Therefore, a new approach is proposed by adding a look-up table and curve-fitting methods to the triangulation technique. In this approach, the stereo camera pair is located on the robot with an angle down to the floor. In the experimental studies, an average accuracy rate of 97.69% is obtained. The Manhattan and Euclidean distances of objects that are not in the same line as the robot are also calculated. Average accuracy rates of 98.24% for Manhattan and 98.03% for Euclidean distances are achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A web-based virtual and remote laboratory environment is developed, realized and proposed for real time control and monitoring of a mobile robot in an indoor environment. In this laboratory, a real time and continuous video stream of indoor laboratory environment is viewed by wireless IP camera mounted to the ceiling. The localization of the robot is also implemented using this IP camera. In this environment, a virtual target and virtual obstacles are located anywhere on the video image taken by the user. The robot is guaranteed to arrive at the virtual target avoiding virtual obstacles using the shortest path. The video stream of the robot's navigation is monitored through the web environment. The robot is controlled by a BeagleBoard-xM single board computer. The PC web server symmetrically communicates with the other web server on the BeagleBoard-xM, executing developed application software. Since genetic algorithms generate alternative solutions, it is utilized as a path planning algorithm. Parameters such as population size and maximum generation of genetic algorithms applied to get the shortest path for the robot are tuned via the web-based virtual laboratory environment. The robot is also controlled manually through the web environment. At the conclusion of the experiments, the results are monitored on the web-based virtual laboratory environment. A low-cost mobile robot virtual remote laboratory is designed and implemented for engineering education in this paper. Consequently, survey and some experimental works, of the usability and performance of the RRC-Lab (remote robot control-laboratory) system are confirmed by students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]