In this post, I will give an introduction to cooperative robotics. I will explain how some robots work in groups to accomplish tasks and where they can be used. A great number of simple robots can execute complex tasks if they work together.
Location
To a robot cooperate with another, it is necessary that they see each other. Some robots can have omnidirectional cameras, which point in all directions.
Other robots, such as the millibot, locate each other using ultrasound pulses. This type of robot emits radio waves and ultrasound to measure the distance from other millibots. The time difference between the reception of the radio signal and the ultrasound measures the distance.
The kilobots locate each other with infrared transmitters and receivers.
Swarm behavior
There are three types of swarm behavior in robots: foraging, formation control, and synchronization. The foraging is inspired by nature, robots spread and explore an area to find objects. This video shows robots foraging an area to collect resources to bring to the base.
In the formation control, robots act in unison, can move in the environment using other robots as reference, and have a sense of position in the group. For example, millibots move in an area using the other three as a reference. Here we have a group of robots moving in a group.
This video shows the kilobots transporting an object like a group of ants.
In the synchronization, all robots must have the same internal clock to execute a task and then change to another. The kilobots can self-organize to form figures.
Another robots use the follow the leader rule, the leader has information about the map, decides the direction, and others follow it. Some robots self-assemble to form a bigger robot to pass through obstacles that couldn`t pass individually.
Some applications
Building a swarm of small and simple robots can be much cheaper than building a bigger and more complex one. Cooperative robotics can be used in maritime vigilance, search and rescue of people and objects in hostile terrain. Imagine a swarm of robotic boats and submarines looking for an airplane that fell in the ocean.
Cooperative robotics can be used in police and military operations, rescue missions, and reconnaissance missions without exposing to risk. If some robots are destroyed, the mission won`t be compromised.
