A novel distributed swarm control strategy based on coupled signal oscillators.
The miniaturization of microrobots is accompanied by limitations of signaling, sensing and agility. Control of a swarm of simple microrobots has to cope with such constraints in a way which still guarantees the accomplishment of a task. A recently proposed communication method, which is based on the coupling of signal oscillators of individual agents [13], may provide a basis for a distributed control of a simulated swarm of simple microrobots (similar to I-Swarm microrobots) engaged in a cleaning scenario. This self-organized communication method was biologically inspired from males of chorusing insects which are known for the rapid synchronization of their acoustic signals in a chorus. Signal oscillator properties were used to generate waves of synchronized signaling (s-waves) among a swarm of agents. In a simulation of a cleaning scenario, agents on the dump initiated concentrically spreading s-waves by shortening their intrinsic signal period. Dirt-carrying agents localized the dump by heading against the wave front. After optimization of certain control parameters the properties of this distributed control strategy were investigated in different variants of a cleaning scenario. These include a second dump, obstacles, different agent densities, agent drop-out and a second signal oscillator.
Hartbauer
Manfred
M
Department of Zoology, Karl-Franzens University Graz, Austria. manfred.hartbauer@uni-graz.at
Römer
Heiner
H
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D032701:Biomimetics / Q000379:methods*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005246:Feedback / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000379:methods*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D012919:Social Behavior