Abstract
Due to the recent advances in robotics, large numbers of robots can be created that exhibit ‘swarm-like’ behaviour. These robots, typically small and low-cost with restricted sensing, often exhibit Brownian motion similar to micro-particles. The development of algorithms that create collective behaviour that is robust to external pressures has applications in outdoor exploration, search and rescue operations, and nanomedicine. Here, we outline how a swarm of minimal robots, exhibiting only Brownian motion and with limited sensing capabilities, can form trails using mechanisms inspired by diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA). We demonstrate how the trail is robust to obstacles and efficient at finding the closest target. We validate this algorithm both in simulation as well as in reality, using a swarm of up to 100 robots, and highlight the optimum requirements for trail formation.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 693-710 |
Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | Cybernetics and Systems |
Volume | 50 |
Issue number | 8 |
Early online date | 7 Nov 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 7 Nov 2019 |
Bibliographical note
The acceptance date for this record is provisional and based upon the month of publication for the article.Keywords
- Chain formation
- diffusion-limited aggregation
- minimal robotics
- path formation
- reaction-diffusion systems
- swarm robotics