Leakage localisation with a mobile robot carrying chemical sensors

On the way to developing an electronic watchman one more sense, i.e. gas sensing facilities, are added to an autonomous mobile robot. For the gas detection, up to eight metal oxide sensors are operated using a commercial sensor system. The robot is able to move and navigate autonomously. The geometric information is extracted from laser range finder data. This input is used to build up an internal map while driving. Using the new sensor the localisation of a gas source in unventilated in-house environments is performed. First experiments in a one-dimensional case show a very good correlation between the peak and the gas source. The one-dimensional concentration profile is repeatedly recorded and stable for at least two hours. The two-dimensional experiments exhibit a circulation of the air within the room due to temperature and hence density effects. The latter is limiting the available recording time for the two-dimensional mapping.