Distributed Algorithms for Controlling Multiple Mobile Robots

Abstract

We discuss a method for controlling a group of mobile robots in a distributed manner. The method is fully distributed in the sense that each robot plans its motion individually based upon a given goal of the group and the observed positions of other robots. We illustrate the method by showing how a large number of robots can form an approximation of a circle, a simple polygon or a line segment in the plane. We also show how the robots can distribute themselves nearly uniformly within a circle or a convex polygon in the plane. Finally, we show how the robots can be divided into two or more groups. It turns out that in many cases most robots execute an identical, simple algorithm. The performance of the method is demonstrated by simulation

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 14, 1994
Accession Number
ADA283975

Entities

People

  • Ichiro Suzuki
  • Kazuo Sugihara

Organizations

  • University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Algorithms
  • Collision Avoidance
  • Collisions
  • Computer Science
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Diameters
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Escape Systems
  • Fungi
  • Intervention
  • Military Research
  • Motion Planning
  • Polygons
  • Robots
  • Simulations
  • Triangles

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Distributed Systems and Data Platform Development
  • Graph Algorithms and Convex Optimization.

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • AI & ML - Autonomous Systems
  • AI & ML - Machine Learning Algorithms
  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - Autonomous System Control