Studies of minimalist multi-robot systems consider multiple robotic agents, each with limited individual capabilities, but with the capacity for self-organization in order to collectively perform coordinated tasks. Object clustering is a widely studied task in which self-organized robots form piles from dispersed objects. Our work considers a variation of an object clustering derived from the influential ant-inspired work of Beckers, Holland and Deneubourg which proposed stigmergy as a design principle for such multi-robot systems. Since puck mechanics contribute to cluster accrual dynamics, we studied a new scenario with square objects because these pucks into clusters differently from cylindrical ones. Although central clusters are usually desired, workspace boundaries can cause perimeter cluster formation to dominate. This research demonstrates successful clustering of square boxes - an especially challenging instance since flat edges exacerbate adhesion to boundaries - using simpler robots than previous published research. Our solution consists of two novel behaviours, Twisting and Digging, which exploit the objects’ geometry to pry boxes free from boundaries. Physical robot experiments illustrate that cooperation between twisters and diggers can succeed in forming a single central cluster. We empirically explored the significance of different divisions of labor by measuring the spatial distribution of robots and the system performance. Data from over 40 hours of physical robot experiments show that different divisions of labor have distinct features, e.g., one is reliable while another is especially efficient.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:tamu.edu/oai:repository.tamu.edu:1969.1/149502 |
| Date | 03 October 2013 |
| Creators | Song, Yong |
| Contributors | Shell, Dylan, Song, Dezhen, Ng, Desmond |
| Source Sets | Texas A and M University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
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