Swarm robotics
We've designed and implemented swarm (or multi-agent) systems where a group of individual agents carry out tasks collectively to achieve a common objective.
Swarm robots are advantageous as force multipliers in missions like search and rescue (SAR), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). For successful completion of these missions, various swarm tactics need to be employed. We've designed and implemented algorithms which are key enablers in the execution of such tactics.
Here are a few examples:
formation flight
A human pilot commands one robot, the autonomous robots hold formation and follow
pursuit
Capture: the autonomous robots detect an invading robot and surround it
Pursue: the autonomous robots track the evading robot so that it does not escape
rendezvous
Consensus: the robots communicate with their neighbours and autonomously navigate to a rendezvous point
We demonstrate rendezvous on physical robots in outdoor environments