LEFKOS AKA "Tourbot" (2001) Computational Vision and Robotics Laboratory (CVRL), Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Crete, Greece. LEFKOS is an RWI B21r robotic platform equipped with a SICK PLS laser scanner, sonar, infrared and bumper sensors. According to Greek mythology, Lefkos was the son of Talos.
"A very important demonstration for Greek informatics took place at the exhibition center of the Hellenic World Foundation, "Hellenic World", from May 28 to June 2 [2001]. Specifically, an innovative robot-tour guide named Tourbot was presented, in the development of which institutions of our country have had a significant participation. This robot has cameras and touch sensors, as well as the ability to navigate autonomously, while at the same time it can be controlled via the Internet. The Greek Tourbot, which was demonstrated at the IME, was named 'Lefkos' " – Tourbot: Greek robot tour guide (2001).
"Lefkos is a 4-wheel synchro-drive robotic platform (iRobot B21r) equipped with a large variety of sensors such as sonars, IR proximity sensors, bumpers, cameras and a laser range finder. Lefkos also carries two full-sized Pentium-based personal computers that supply enough computing power to perform autonomously a large variety of navigation tasks. Depending on the application, Lefkos' vision system may consist of a stereovision pan-tilt head with two digital CCD cameras and/or a panoramic camera or, alternatively, a mechanical head capable of expressing emotions. As a tour-guide robot, Lefkos utilizes a hybrid, discrete-continuous probabilistic navigation system developed within our lab. In this case, the most important sensor of Lefkos is its laser range finder which is capable of scanning 180 degrees of the environment, with an angle resolution of two measurements per degree and a range measuring accuracy of 5cm. Lefkos mechanical head allows interaction with people and expression of emotions. Lefkos head is also equipped with two CCD cameras, comprising this way a stereo vision head with pan capabilities." – CVRL Robots.
