Interactive modular graphical user interface development for telesensation systems

Graphical user interface (GUI) software is used in applications that vary from industrial operations such as pilot training and undersea operations to advanced operations such as hazardous material handling in nuclear reactors and space missions. Intelligent GUIs can be used to provide training for the operator and simulate the system before the actual operations occur. Thus, performance and safety of the system are significantly enhanced. This paper presents the ongoing work on an advanced graphical user interface software for telesensation systems which is being developed at the Robotics and Automation (R&A) Laboratory at Florida International University. The interface package is mainly developed for controlling robots in remote sites, but it can also be used to control mobile platforms or any remote system. The package accepts various standard inputs from different devices such as video cameras, CCD cameras, force-reflecting manual controllers, virtual reality units and a variety of sensors particular to the application. Additionally, the remote system can be simulated graphically and presented as part of the graphical user interface. The same task can be viewed from different windows simultaneously and the characteristics presented to the operator to enhance his perception of the remote site and ease the control task considerably.