Unloading operation by the unloader is dependent on the experience of the operator in the cabin. If the operator receives information about the unloading situation in the process of lifting the bucket, it is possible to prevent the collision of the bucket with the ship structure. In recent years, numerous measurement systems have become available on the market for three-dimensional surveying of objects, but they are very expensive. This study presents a high quality, low cost 3D laser scanning system designed for object recognition. The developed 3D laser scanning system is built on the base of a 2D laser sensor by the extension with a servo motor and a rotation module. In order to evaluate performance of the developed 3D laser scanning system, the developed system was applied to scan a shape of hatch and cargo holder on a cargo ship. Experimental results showed that to obtain a 3D scanning data for the area around the hatch and cargo holder.

When problems occurred in the unstable and/or extreme terrain environment, formal field-driving robots were unable to provide any other options such as the transformation of the wheel and body structure, and so on. For such reason, this paper proposed a novel type of integrated wheel mechanism that can be operated as a conventional driving wheel mode and hybrid wheel-leg mode in order to be negotiated in an unstable terrain environment. The mechanical effect of the proposed variable wheel mechanism was analyzed considering the geometric constraint and power requirement of the actuator for the transformation. In addition, we designed and manufactured the prototype of field-driving robot, which reliably control the variable wheel shape. Finally, the effectiveness of the variable wheel mechanism was verified by preliminary experimental approach.