Lab Manual

NOTE: the following document is geared toward users of the IRL Flight Arena. Users of the Robotics Pavilion and Highbay will follow the guidelines based on their research equipment and laboratory involved.

Introduction to IRL

The University of Illinois Intelligent Robotics Laboratory (IRL), officially established in 2015, is an initiative of the Coordinated Science Laboratory (CSL). IRL is a shared research facility which brings together world-class faculties and students to solve ambitious and challenging problems in mobile robotics. IRL is also a highly collaborative laboratory to unite research groups of various expertise across the campus to expand the frontier of robotics applications. IRL is pleased to recognize the many units of campus that embrace the notion of a shared facility designed to provide greater capabilities at lower costs for all interested faculty and who are helping fund its operations. These include:

  • College of Engineering
  • Coordinated Science Laboratory
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Mechanical Science and Engineering

The faculty associated with IRL span an even greater set of units reflecting the breadth and depth of expertise that can be drawn from by partnering with IRL. These include:

  • College of Engineering
  • College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
  • Coordinated Science Laboratory
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering
  • Mechanical Science and Engineering
  • Physics

The Intelligent Robotics Lab currently hosts an indoor aerial robot arena, a 33x30x13 ft3 (10x9x4 m3) motion-capture volume with safety netting and a cushioned floor. The space can easily be reconfigured to provide for cooperating aerial and ground vehicle research. The motion capture volume is covered by 8 Vicon T40 motion capture cameras capable of running at 370 frame per second with full frame resolution. Real-time positioning data, from object markers captured by the system, can provide millimeter accuracy and be streamed via Wi-Fi or local internet connections to devices interfaced with the Vicon DataStream SDK. Currently the SDK supports C++ and Matlab programming using vrpn_client_ros (updated from vicon_bridge).

Flying Arena

The research activities at IRL are supported by NASA, the Office of Naval Research, the Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies, and the University of Illinois. IRL is pleased to welcome any research group that are interested in using or contributing to IRL’s facility services to join the lab. The purpose of this manual is to present lab guide and user policies in a transparent manner with emphasis on safety, fairness and collegiality.

       

Missions

IRL’s missions are:

  • provide facilities and expertise for users to conduct research in mobile robotics
  • facilitate fast-prototyping of mobile robotics research platforms
  • develop software solutions for Vicon motion capture users
  • train students about remote piloting, safety procedures and skills to perform robotics-related experiments.

 

Organization

  • IRL Managing Director: Dr. Normand Paquin (paquin@illinois.edu)
  • IRL Main Contact – Laboratory Manager and Robotics Shared Spaces Coordinator: Principal Research Engineer John M. Hart (jmhart3 @ illinois.edu)

Information about IRL can be found on IRL’s website.

Acknowledgement for Papers Involving Experimentation in the CfA Laboratories

The following acknowledgement shall be included in all publications that incorporate any results obtained through the use of the CfA facilities:

“… was carried out in part in the Center for Autonomy Robotics Laboratories at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.”

Please also send the publication information (citation, DOI, or conference name and paper/poster title) to the lab manager.

The CfA research staff may make contributions to the research carried out by our users. They can have an important scientific role through the planning and realization of experiments, through the analysis and interpretation of data, or through significant collaboration to the research. When these occur, the staff person should be included as a co-author on papers.

Key Parts of Manual
Use of the Lab
Lab Rules
Safety Training

Use of the Lab

The preferred mode of operation at IRL is self-use after completing the necessary training.  Prospective users may schedule a tour with the lab manager during office hours. After a brief process to become a formal user (see below) and completion of lab training, you can apply to get access to the lab and reserve time for the lab facilities.

Becoming a User

In general, any mobile robotics-related project or Vicon users are encouraged to use the IRL facility. Prospective users should follow the application instructions here to become a formal user and get i-card access to the lab. Every effort will be made to ensure decisions about the application will be sent back to the applicant and the applicant’s supervisor within 2 business days. Lab users can make lab reservations online.

Completing Lab Training

The lab staff provides office hours to introduce new users to IRL, covering the following topics:

  • Discuss/plan research work
  • Test mobile robots in the arena
  • Help using lab soldering and test equipment
  • Assist in robot assembly and repair
  • Introduce to the Vicon motion capture system
  • Compliance with IRL rules and safety measures

To complete the training, a perspective IRL user must pass a lab-safety quiz, demonstrate Vicon operational competency (if applicable) and a flight test if the project involves flying UAVs in IRL.  Completion of these elements will be recognized through the assignment of a user facilities permission status. This will status will need to be included in reservation requests.

To comply with our safety rules and insurance requirements, we recommend that no user use the lab alone.  Before a user has completed lab training, such users can use the facility only accompanied by IRL staff and with advance notice to the IRL staff. Failure to follow these rules and other rules related to IRL use could result in suspension of user privileges.  Please take note that safety violations and investigations of incidents could result in closure of the facility for your group and possibly all users.

Making reservations to use the lab

After completing the lab training, users can schedule time and self-use the facility as long as all lab rules are followed. Please use the web-based reservation form. Please also include set-up time and reconfiguration time if you need to reconfigure the laboratory in a configuration that differs from standard. The standard set-up is for UAS flights with foam dispersed evenly across the floor and netting fully deployed. You will be expected to remove such foam when you require it and replace it at the end of your measurements. Addition of large fans for gust simulation are another example of deviations from the standard configuration.

Currently, a lab schedule is maintained on the IRL’s website. Please find an open time slot and submit the reservation request form online. After the appointment is approved, the requested time will appear on the lab schedule.

Lab Rules

  • Items labeled as “Staff Only” must be handled by IRL staff; general users should not touch them.
  • Ask the lab manager before handling any items that you are not sure if you may handle it.
  • Ask the lab manager for permission before you need to move things in/out of the lab.
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Using IRL space

Researchers who are part of an active project approved by IRL can use IRL facilities. IRL is located inside the CSL studio (1206 W. Clark, Urbana IL). As shown in the picture above, IRL users may use the Bench room and the Flying arena. The i-card access to the Bench room and the Flying arena can be obtained after completion of lab training.

It is worth stating again that IRL is a shared facility. As such IRL has strived to develop use policies that are fair to all. We also emphasize the importance for these facilities to be used safely and maintained in good operational order for all users and their respective colleagues.

 

Builders Lab

The Builders Lab is used a staging area for flight tests in the Flying arena and as an innovation center to build robotic platforms. IRL provides common tools for building and maintaining robots, as shown in the picture below. IRL users may recommend new tools for IRL to purchase. Please send your wish list to the IRL lab manager and include a brief explanation why IRL should have the tools you are recommending and how such tools might benefit other user, if applicable. The IRL staff will work their best to serve your research needs although budgetary considerations may limit IRL’s ability to acquire such tools promptly.

Specialized tools of use to a particular experiment or use can be brought by the user to IRL. The user should notify the Lab Coordinator/Manager and if reasonable, the lab manager will provide storage space for such equipment while the related project is completed.

All eleven benches are labeled by IRL from B1 to B11. B3 and B5 are IRL’s dedicated working bench area and are reserved for IRL daily users who have appointments on the online schedule. Users may apply to use other working benches for a long term following rules:

  • The user must have an active project at IRL approved by the IRL staff.
  • Any project material/equipment brought in and out of IRL must be reported on the log book at the entrance of room 1257.
  • Hazardous material should not be stored in the Bench room.
  • No more than two benches can be used by a single group if no more benches are available and there are demands from other groups.
  • The longest time span that can be reserved at one time is one month.
  • Renewal is possible and must be approved by the IRL staff.
    • IRL staff may turn down the renewal for reasons including but not limited to the following: the bench is not used more than 50% of the requested time, project priority, high demand of the Bench room from other users currently in the waiting list.
  • All lab rules are followed by the user.

Other rules in the Bench room:

  • Material/equipment brought in and out of the 1207 and 1208 must be reported to the lab manager and logged into a the log book at the entrance of room 1257. Materials/equipment belonging to IRL must not be removed from 1207 and 1208 unless written permission has been obtained from the Lab Manager.
  • Do not arm the motors of your multirotors if you have propellers on. i.e. disable the motor if you have propellers on the vehicle.
  • Do not drill or cut carbon-fiber material indoors: carbon-fiber power is toxic, you must talk to the lab coordinator/manager if your project requires modifying carbon-fiber material.
  • At the end of your experiment day, make sure to:
    • Clean and tidy your bench.
    • Restore the tool bench to its original configuration.
    • Unplug all power plugs.
    • Store your batteries according to the lab safety rules (See below).
    • Store any bulky equipment in the storage room 1256.
    • Shutdown your computers and close the door at 1257.
  • All lab rules are followed by the user. Failure to follow lab rules may result in consequences up to and including immediate termination of rights to use desk space.

Flying Arena

Room 1258 hosts the flying arena and Vicon motion capture cameras.  The IRL working bench B3 and B5 will be automatically reserved with your reservation of room 1258. Please reserve your time online for the upcoming week on or before the Thursday of the previous week.  This will enable enough time for conflictions in requests and to get your iCard access approved for those times.  Please cancel any reserved time as soon as possible and at least 48 hours in advance when possible.  A reoccurring schedule is possible, please follow the format of the online reservation form and indicate your reoccurring experiment times.  The maximum time-span the user can reserve  is 5 hours per day.  Special requests, such as a daily repeating reservation of 5 hours, may need to be negotiated with IRL staff during high usage times.

A confirmation about your schedule will be sent back to you via email. You must be on the calendar in order to use the lab.  Note that users who consistently reserve and cancel time in the facility may find their access limited at the discretion of the lab manager.

Flying Arena and Bench Room Rules

  • Flight tests can be performed in the flying arena only.  Hardware building and maintenance should be carried out in the Bench room 1257.
  • You may keep your experiment setup on your working bench overnight provided you disconnect all power cords and properly organized the space such that it is clean and tidy.
  • Any vehicles must be approved by the Lab manager before they can be operated at IRL.
  • Pilots can fly their drones only after passing the flight test of the lab training session.
  • Aerial robots that weigh more than 250g cannot carry propellers with main battery plugged outside of the flying arena room 1258.
  • Vicon camera calibration will be checked weekly at 10:00am. If the calibration wand measurement is off by more than 1%, a new camera calibration will be performed at once. Monthly camera calibration will be performed at 10:00am the first Monday in the month.
  • The Vicon computer must be used for motion-capture related tasks.
  • Maximum timespan the user can reserve the lab is 5 hours; Special requests, such as a repeating reservation of more than 5 hours, may need to be negotiated with IRL staff during time of high usage.
  • The LED strobe lights on Vicon cameras have a certain lifttime. To prolong the service of Vicon instruments, if the Vicon cameras are not being used for data aquisition for longer than 45 min, the cameras should be turned off; the computer which controls the Vicon cameras can be left on to maintain your work state.
  • Please make sure all doors are closed and locked whenever leaving the lab.

Users must also obey the flying robot safety rules for safety before, during, and after operating their drone.

Battery / Fuel Safety Rules

Handling LiPo batteries:

  • Fully charged LiPo batteries must be stored in fire-resistant sacks.
  • Always use “1C” to charge your LiPo battery, namely the maximum charging rate you can use is 1 times the battery capacity rating, with the units changed to amps, e.g. if your battery has a capacity rating of 2200mah, you should charge your battery at 2.2 amp.
  • Always charge batteries inside the provided fire-resistant container, shown in the picture below:

  • To dispose old LiPo batteries, properly discharge the battery using the discharge function of the charger, submerge them in salt water for at least a week then you can safely throw them into trash; LiPo batteries are environmentally safe. If you want to dispose a LiPo battery at IRL, talk to the lab manager who will handle the disposal for you.
  • Never use a punctured LiPo battery; if your LiPo battery gets a puncture in a crash for example, go find the lab manager immediately. Never try to charge or discharge a punctured LiPo battery; fire or explosion could occur. The lab manager is the only authorized person to handle a punctured LiPo battery at IRL.
  • When not using the LiPo battery for more than 10 days, please use the storage function of the charger to properly maintain the LiPo battery per-cell voltage at the storage value (~3.8 V).
  • Batteries not in use must be stored in fire-resistant LiPo sacks. If the batteries won’t be used in more than 10 days, please use the storage function of the charger to properly maintain the LiPo battery per-cell voltage at the storage value (~3.8 V).
  • Fire extinguishers are located at the entrance of room 1257 in case of fire, always notify the Lab manager or other Senior CSL staff and contact fire department by calling 911.

Handling Nitro fuel:

  • Nitro-powered engines should be operated outdoors only.

Violations to safety rules: any user who violates IRL’s safety rules will be subject to consequences up to and including the suspension of user privileges; such users will also be required to go through IRL lab training again. Before repeating the lab training, users will not be able to use facilities at IRL. Violations of safety will be reported to the users professor, the CSL facilities manager and be recorded in the Lab Manager’s logbook. Damages resulting from violations may be billed and expected to be paid for by the user and/or the user’s professor.

Lab Manager Office Hours

The IRL Manager and Lab Coordinator can be contacted via email and meetings scheduled via Zoom for assistance.

You can also request a time for your Safety Training or Flight Test by mail as well.

Usage Rates

Open to All University Users at This Time

The following are future guidelines are currently under consideration:

IRL is a shared facility that must cover costs and be able to invest in regular upgrades in order to continue to operate and maintain its ability to permit its users to undertake cutting edge research. As such, the following guidelines have been developed for different types of users.

  • For University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign users
    • Those whose primary appointment is in departments supporting IRL operations
      • Access is open and at no cost
    • Those whose primary appointment is in departments not supporting IRL operations
      • Please consult the lab manager for no cost access
    • Those providing equipment of benefit to IRL and its user community
      • Special arrangements will be considered
  • For industry users
    • These will require the completion and approval of a facilities use agreement
  • We anticipate usage policies and fees to be reviewed on an annual basis to reflect changes in support and costing

Safety Training

Safety Training will include the following:

  • Introduction to general lab rules
  • Lab safety procedures
  • Usage of available equipment
  • Safe operation inside the flying arena

Flight Tests and Practice Flying Multicopters

  • For student that have not flown a UAV, we have the following available for reservation:
    • Multiple hours of practice flight time with our multicopter flight simulator in the IRL Builders Room (1257)
    • Use our student practice quadrotor for practicing flying in the IRL Flying Arena (Rm 1258)
  • Flight Tests for pilots include being able to perform the following maneuvers with the IRL training quadcopter:
    • Hovering at 4 orientations
    • Bank-turn circling
    • Figure-8 circling (may be done in simulator)
  •  
  • In addition, pilots must have a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the quadrotors (describing the equipment, operation and the info below) and demonstrate a flight with their own aerial robotic platform and equipment to be used for their research experimentation:
    • Perform the pre-flight check using their own pre-flight checklist.
    • Perform a typical flight in the actual experiment
    • Demonstrate the fail-safe and kill switch settings

Video Tutorials (under development)

A number of general safety tutorials are available on-line. The following are required. Users should complete these and print certificate of completions for inclusion in their user qualification materials. These are:

  • LiPo battery safety
  • Radio fail safe settings
  • Fire extinguisher usage
  • Safe soldering

A number of additional safety or equipment use videos are recommended for viewing if they are applicable to the experiments users are expecting to undertake. Examples include:

Until IRL specialized video tutorials are completed, users should go to training session with the Lab Manager to complete training requirements.

Pilot training for fixed-wings (TBD)

This will be a collaboration with Champaign County R/C Club. Student pilots will be introduced to the CCRCC flight school. The training is free-of-charge.

Recommendations

IRL staff welcome suggestions for improvement of operations and facilitation of usage to the extent possible. Please provide suggestions in person during office hours or email suggestions to the Lab Manager/Coordinator. If you feel that your comments and suggestions are not being addressed in a reasonable time frame, feel free to contact the IRL Lab Director.