Research
Most of my research has involved applying algorithms inspired by the mamallian endocrine system to manage power and competing demmands in autonomous robots. This lets the robot gradually adjust its behaviour as the conditions it operates in change. One example of this is to reduce the amount we move actuators or the speed the robot travels at, as the batteries get flat.
Related to this i'm interested in developing autonomous sailing robots as oceanographic observation platforms, which can stay at sea for weeks or months at a time and gather data about the water. To stimulate research in this area we've been trying to have a race called the Microtransat Challenge, across the Atlantic with autonomous sailing robots. We made an attempt at this in 2010 (see our sailing robot blog for more on this), but it only lasted a few days. Several others have tried since but they haven't been much more successful. There is also an annual series of short races called the World Robotic Sailing Championships where sailing robots can compete against each other without (much) risk of being lost at sea. I ran this competition in Cardiff in 2012 along with the associated International Robotic Sailing Conference.
Publications
For PDFs of most of these see my page on CADAIR, Aberystwyth University's digital repository.
- C. Sauzé and M. Neal, P. Miller and T. Blanchard (2015), “An Ice Strengthened Autonomous Surface Vessel for Surveying Marine-Terminating Calving Glaciers”, Journal of Ocean Technology, volume 10, number 3, pages 86-111.
- P. Miller, M. Hamlet, C. Sauzé, M. Neal, et al, (2014), “MaxiMOOP: A Multi-Role, Low Cost and Small Sailing Robot Platform”, In proceedings of the 7th International Robotic Sailing Conference, Galway, Ireland, September 8th-13th 2014, pages 17-30
- C. Sauzé and M. Neal, (2013), “An Artificial Endocrine Controller for Power Management in Robotic Systems”, IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems, volume 24, number 12, December 2013, pages 1973-1985
- C. Sauzé, M. Neal and P. Miller, (2013), “The Development of ARRTOO: A Long-Endurance, Hybrid-Powered, Oceanographic Research Vessel”, In proceedings of the 6th International Robotic Sailing Conference, Brest, France, September 2nd-6th 2013
- C. Sauzé and M. Neal, (2011), “MOOP: A Miniature Sailing Robot Platform”, In proceedings of the 4th International Robotic Sailing Conference, Lübeck, Germany, August 16th-20th 2011, pages 39-53
- C. Sauzé and M. Neal, (2011), “Simulating Sailing Robots”, In proceedings of the 4th International Robotic Sailing Conference, Lübeck, Germany, August 16th-20th 2011, pages 113-124
- C. Sauzé and M.Neal, (2011), 'Long Term Power Management in Sailing Robots', In proceedings of IEEE Oceans 2011, Santander, Spain, June 6-9 2011.
- C. Sauzé (2010) “Long Term Power Management in Sailing Robots”, PhD Thesis, University of Wales, Aberystwyth
- C. Sauzé and M. Neal, “A Neuro-Endocrine Inspired Approach to Long Term Energy Autonomy in Sailing Robots.”, in proceedings of TAROS (Towards Autonomous Robotic Systems) 2010, August 31st-September 2nd 2010, pages 255-262,
- C. Sauzé and M. Neal (2010), “A Raycast Approach to Collision Avoidance in Sailing Robots”, in proceedings of the 3rd International Robotic Sailing Conference, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, June 6th-10th 2010
- M. Neal, C. Sauzé, B. Thomas and J.C. Alves (2009) “Technologies for Autonomous Sailing: Wings and Wind Sensors”, in proceedings of the 2nd IRSC, Matosinhos, Portugal, July 6th-12th 2009, pages 23-30.
- C. Sauzé and M. Neal (2008) “Design Considerations for Sailing Robots Performing Long Term Autonomous Oceanography.”, in proceedings of the IRSC, Breitenbrunn, Austria, May 23rd-24th 2008, pages 21-29.
- C. Sauzé and M. Neal (2008) “A Biologically Inspired Approach to Longer Term Autonomy and Survival in Sailing Robots.”, in proceedings of the IRSC, Breitenbrunn, Austria, May 23rd-24th 2008, pages 6-11.
- C. Sauzé and M. Neal (2006) “A Sailing Robot for Ocean Observation”, in proceedings of TAROS 2006, pages 190-197. Guildford, UK, September 4th-6th 2006.
- C. Sauzé (2005) “Control Software for a Sailing Robot”, Masters Thesis, University of Wales, Aberystwyth.