Swarm robotics: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:43, 10 March 2008

Revision as of 20:44, 10 March 2008

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Unlike [[distributed robotic system]]s in general, swarm robotics emphasizes a ''large'' number of robots, and promotes [[scalability]], for instance by using only local communication. That local communication for example can be achieved by [[wireless]] transmission systems, like [[radio frequency]] or [[infrared]].

Potential applicationapplications for swarm robotics include tasks that demand for [[miniaturization]] ([[nanorobotics]], [[microbotics]]), like distributed sensing tasks in [[micromachinery]] or the [[human body]]. On the other hand swarm robotics can be suited to tasks that demand cheap designs, for instance [[mining]] tasks or agricultural [[foraging]] tasks. Also some artists use swarm robotic techniques to realize new forms of [[interactive art]]. Both miniaturization and cost are key-factors in swarm robotics. This are the constraints to build large groups of robotics, therefore the simplicity of the individual team member should be emphasized. This should motivate a swarm-intelligent approach to achieve meaningful behavior on swarm-level, instead of the individual level.

[[Video tracking]] is an essential tool for systematically studying swarm-behavior, even though other tracking methods are available. Recently [[Bristol robotics laboratory]] developed an ultrasonic position tracking system for swarm research purposes. Further research is needed to find methodologies that allow designing and reliably predicting of swarm behavior, while the only features of the individual swarm members are given.