The National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) is an operating unit within the Robotics Institute (RI) of Carnegie Mellon University. NREC works closely with government and industry clients to apply robotic technologies to real-world processes and products, including unmanned vehicle and platform design, autonomy, sensing and image processing, machine learning, manipulation, and human–robot interaction.
NREC is led by Dr. Herman Herman, who has served as director since 2015.
NREC research objectives and approach NREC applies robotics technologies to build functional prototype systems from concept to commercialization. A typical NREC project includes a rapid proof-of-concept demonstration followed by an in-depth development and testing phase that produces a robust prototype with intellectual property for licensing and commercialization. Throughout this process, NREC applies best practices for software development, system integration, and field testing. Sponsors and partners include industrial companies, technology startups, and federal agencies such as DARPA, the Department of Transportation, NASA, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
NREC's research model is based on Creative design and engineering on all levels and across all disciplines Rapid prototyping using in-house fabrication capabilities Collaboration with sponsors to commercialize technology
NREC history National Robotics Engineering Consortium (NREC) at Carnegie Mellon was established in 1994 with help from a $2.5 million grant from NASA.
In 1994, scientists at the Carnegie Mellon Field Robotics Center realized that the mobile robotics field was mature enough for commercial application in agriculture, construction, mining, utilities, and other markets. Consequently, the National Robotics Engineering Consortium (NREC) was chartered to develop and transition robotic technology to industry and federal agencies. Original funding for the center included $2.5 million in seed funding from NASA.
In 1996, the organization moved to its current facility in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood and was renamed the National Robotics Engineering Center. The NREC is housed in a renovated, 100,000-square-foot foundry building on a reclaimed industrial brownfield site.
The NREC provided technical support to RedZone's development of Pioneer, an autonomous mapping and reconnaissance robot developed in 1997 to explore, map, and assess the Chernobyl Sarcophagus.
The Robotics Academy was launched in 2000 and designed to help K-1 teachers use robots to teach science and mathematics. That same year, the NREC developed the Crusher, and autonomous off-road unmanned ground combat vehicle (UGCV), funded by DARPA and the United States Army.
In February 2019, the NREC hosted the activation of the U.S. Army AI Task Force (A-AI TF).
NREC timeline Year Key milestone 1994 NASA funds the creation of NREC 1996 NREC moves into current facility 1997 Pioneer system developed for Chernobyl disaster response 1997 Demeter project leads to the development of an automated, self-propelled harvester 2000 Robotics Academy is launched to nurture STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and robotics education for students and teachers 2000 NREC wins DARPA's UGCV and PerceptOR programs, leading to the development of the Crusher unmanned ground combat vehicle 2001 M-2000 Robotic Hydro-blasting System, providing an environmentally safe and cost-effective solution to stripping ship hulls. The system is now in commercial production as the ENVIROBOT.Chariot Robotics, official web site 2005 Gladiator tactical unmanned ground vehicle, developed for the US Marine Corps.Gladiator Tactical Unmanned Ground Vehicle, Globalsecurity.org web site 2006 Crusher unmanned ground vehicle begins 2 years of field trials for off-road autonomous navigation 2007 CMU's Tartan Racing team wins the DARPA Urban Challenge unmanned vehicle competitionDARPA Urban Challenge , archived web siteCarnegie Mellon Tartan Racing, official web site 2008 Development of high-speed machine vision system, to monitor conveyor belts in coal mines, improving productivity and worker safety 2009 Implementation of autonomous agricultural equipment for harvesting, spraying, and mowing 2010 Sensabot robot delivers inspection capabilities for gas and oil facilities 2011 President Obama visits NREC to launch the National Robotics InitiativeObama Commanding Robot Revolution, Announces Major Robotics Initiative, IEEE Spectrum. 2012 DARPA selects NREC's Tartan Rescue Team to compete in the DARPA Robotics ChallengeCarnegie Mellon Four-Limbed Robot Will Compete In DARPA Robotic Challenge Trials This December, Carnegie Mellon University press release, July, 2013 2013 Tartan Rescue's CHIMP robot (CMU Highly Intelligent Mobile Platform) takes 3rd place in the DARPA Robotics Challenge TrialsDARPA Robotics Challenge Trials , archived web site. and qualifies for the finalsDARPA Robotics Challenge , official web site. 2015Dr. Herman Herman becomes NREC's new Director2016NREC celebrates its 20th Anniversary2017Initial robotic prototyping to support mat sinking operations on the Mississippi River with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers2018Honeywell, CMU Develop Advanced Supply Chain Robotics and AI Solutions for Connected Distribution Centers2019Activation of U.S. Army AI Task Force, hosted at NREC2019Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) partners with Carnegie Mellon University's NREC and Robotics Academy to grow a skilled, technical workforce2020Demonstration of ARMOR 1 Prototype for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers2021CMU Releases Impact Report on NREC's 25 Years
Project case studies
DARPA robotics challenge CHIMP is a human-sized robot that, when standing, is 5-foot-2-inches tall and weighs about 400 pounds. Tartan Rescue Team engineers designed CHIMP to work in dangerous, degraded environments that were built for people, not robots. CHIMP operates semi-autonomously and can plan and carry out high-level instructions given by its operator. Its near-human form, strength, precision, and dexterity enable it to perform complex, human-level tasks. CHIMP is not a dynamically balanced walking robot. Instead, it is designed to move on stable, tank-like treads incorporated into its four limbs.
CHIMP ranked third in the DARPA Robotics Challenge Trials in December 2013. Scoring 18 out of a possible 32 points during the two-day trials, the team demonstrated the system's ability to perform such tasks as removing debris, opening doors, cutting a hole in a wall, and closing a series of valves. The system was selected as one of nine eligible for DARPA funding to prepare for the DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals in 2015.
Urban challenge Carnegie Mellon University's Tartan Racing team and General Motors built an autonomous SUV that won first place in the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge. The Urban Challenge race was held on November 3, 2007, at the Victorville training facility in California. Eleven teams competed against each other to finish a 60-mile city course in less than six hours. Their vehicles had to execute simulated missions in a mock urban area while obeying traffic laws, safely merging into moving traffic, navigating traffic circles, negotiating busy intersections, and avoiding other vehicles – all without human intervention.
Automation and machine learning for agriculture Vehicle safeguarding: Being able to detect obstacles and terrain hazards significantly increases the safety of both manned and unmanned agricultural vehicles. The project uses machine learning techniques to build a robust obstacle detection system that can be easily adapted to different environments and operating conditions. NREC integrated its add-on perception packages onto a team of three computer-controlled tractors developed by John Deere. These autonomous tractors were used in harvesting operations in a peat bog. The robotic peat harvesting team was tested for a full season, completing over 100 harvesting missions in a working peat bog. Their behavior imitated manual peat harvesting operations while maintaining a safe operating environment.
Strawberry Plant Sorter: Building upon expertise in vision, mechanisms, and manipulation, NREC built an automated strawberry plant sorter that streamlines the harvesting process, improves efficiency, and ensures consistent plant quality. The machine vision system is trained to sort strawberry plants using samples harvested by a human, sorting plants of different varieties and levels of maturity while operating under realistic conditions, where rain and frost change plants' appearance and roots may contain mud and debris. Lassen Canyon Nursery and other growers, representing approximately 85% of California's strawberry plant nursery market, supported this project and plan to use the technology in their operations.
Orchard Spraying: NREC developed a retrofit kit that allows a tractor to operate without a driver. Its software accurately estimated the vehicle’s location and enabled it to autonomously follow a predetermined path. The autonomous tractor sprayed water while following a seven-kilometer-long path through an orange orchard without any human intervention. To achieve the path teach/playback capability, NREC developed a positioning system that uses an extended Kalman filter for fusing the odometry, the GPS information, and the IMU measurements. The path following system is based on the Pure Pursuit algorithm.
Defense robotics for convoy safety NREC and Oshkosh Defense are developing autonomous unmanned ground vehicle technologies for logistics tactical wheeled vehicles used by the US Marine Corps. CARGO Unmanned Ground Vehicles (CARGO UGVs or CUGVs) are designed for autonomous use in convoys that combine manned and unmanned vehicles. An operator in another vehicle supervises one or more unmanned vehicles, which drive autonomously in convoy formation day and night, in all weather, and when dust and smoke limit visibility.
Technologies developed under this project are part of Oshkosh Defense’s TerraMax™ UGV kit, which supports unmanned convoy operations.Unmanned Ground Vehicle, Oshkosh Defense official web site
Sensabot Sensabot is a rugged robot designed to safely carry out on-site inspections in hazardous environments, isolated facilities, and other places that are difficult or dangerous for personnel to access. Benefits include reduced risk and improved efficiency of operation.
The system consists of a mobile robotic base equipped with a sensor boom that is fitted with inspection sensors. It is capable of operating in extreme temperatures, as well as explosive and toxic atmospheres. The robot is remotely controlled by a human operator who utilizes the sensors to conduct inspections on pipes, fittings, and valves. Sensabot has been designed to conform to the IECEx Zone 1 standards for explosive environments, as well as the ANSI safety standards for guided industrial vehicles.Sensabot: A Safe and Cost-Effective Inspection Solution, Journal of Petroleum Technology, October 2012
Advanced Robotic Laser Coating Removal System (ARLCRS) The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC), and NREC are developing an environmentally friendly system to remove coatings from U.S. Air Force aircraft through funding from Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC).
The Advanced Robotic Laser Coating Removal System (ARLCRS) uses a powerful laser stripping tool and state-of-the-art mobile robots to automatically remove paint and coatings from aircraft. The complete system is scalable for use from fighters to cargo and tanker aircraft. ARLCRS will reduce hazardous waste, air emissions, maintenance costs, and processing time. CTC is developing the laser coatings removal and particle capture systems. NREC is developing the mobile robots, sensors, and autonomy system.
Operator assistance for underground coal mining