ADAPTIVE DISTRIBUTION OF A SWARM OF HETEROGENEOUS ROBOTS

We present a method that distributes a swarm of heterogeneous robots among a set of tasks that require specialized capabilities in order to be completed. We model the system of heterogeneous robots as a community of species, where each species (robot type) is defined by the traits (capabilities) tha...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Amanda Prorok, M. Ani Hsieh, Vijay Kumar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: CTU Central Library 2016-02-01
Series:Acta Polytechnica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ojs.cvut.cz/ojs/index.php/ap/article/view/3438
_version_ 1828357432469880832
author Amanda Prorok
M. Ani Hsieh
Vijay Kumar
author_facet Amanda Prorok
M. Ani Hsieh
Vijay Kumar
author_sort Amanda Prorok
collection DOAJ
description We present a method that distributes a swarm of heterogeneous robots among a set of tasks that require specialized capabilities in order to be completed. We model the system of heterogeneous robots as a community of species, where each species (robot type) is defined by the traits (capabilities) that it owns. Our method is based on a continuous abstraction of the swarm at a macroscopic level as we model robots switching between tasks. We formulate an optimization problem that produces an optimal set of transition rates for each species, so that the desired trait distribution is reached as quickly as possible. Since our method is based on the derivation of an analytical gradient, it is very efficient with respect to state-of-the-art methods. Building on this result, we propose a real-time optimization method that enables an online adaptation of transition rates. Our approach is well-suited for real-time applications that rely on online redistribution of large-scale robotic systems.
first_indexed 2024-04-14T03:15:33Z
format Article
id doaj.art-1f42e942256a4ee09337632b4ca2d51f
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1210-2709
1805-2363
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-14T03:15:33Z
publishDate 2016-02-01
publisher CTU Central Library
record_format Article
series Acta Polytechnica
spelling doaj.art-1f42e942256a4ee09337632b4ca2d51f2022-12-22T02:15:29ZengCTU Central LibraryActa Polytechnica1210-27091805-23632016-02-01561677510.14311/APP.2016.56.00673100ADAPTIVE DISTRIBUTION OF A SWARM OF HETEROGENEOUS ROBOTSAmanda Prorok0M. Ani Hsieh1Vijay Kumar2General Robotics, Automation, Sensing & Perception (GRASP) Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USAGeneral Robotics, Automation, Sensing & Perception (GRASP) Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USAGeneral Robotics, Automation, Sensing & Perception (GRASP) Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USAWe present a method that distributes a swarm of heterogeneous robots among a set of tasks that require specialized capabilities in order to be completed. We model the system of heterogeneous robots as a community of species, where each species (robot type) is defined by the traits (capabilities) that it owns. Our method is based on a continuous abstraction of the swarm at a macroscopic level as we model robots switching between tasks. We formulate an optimization problem that produces an optimal set of transition rates for each species, so that the desired trait distribution is reached as quickly as possible. Since our method is based on the derivation of an analytical gradient, it is very efficient with respect to state-of-the-art methods. Building on this result, we propose a real-time optimization method that enables an online adaptation of transition rates. Our approach is well-suited for real-time applications that rely on online redistribution of large-scale robotic systems.https://ojs.cvut.cz/ojs/index.php/ap/article/view/3438heterogeneous multi-robot systemsswarm roboticsstochastic systemstask allocation
spellingShingle Amanda Prorok
M. Ani Hsieh
Vijay Kumar
ADAPTIVE DISTRIBUTION OF A SWARM OF HETEROGENEOUS ROBOTS
Acta Polytechnica
heterogeneous multi-robot systems
swarm robotics
stochastic systems
task allocation
title ADAPTIVE DISTRIBUTION OF A SWARM OF HETEROGENEOUS ROBOTS
title_full ADAPTIVE DISTRIBUTION OF A SWARM OF HETEROGENEOUS ROBOTS
title_fullStr ADAPTIVE DISTRIBUTION OF A SWARM OF HETEROGENEOUS ROBOTS
title_full_unstemmed ADAPTIVE DISTRIBUTION OF A SWARM OF HETEROGENEOUS ROBOTS
title_short ADAPTIVE DISTRIBUTION OF A SWARM OF HETEROGENEOUS ROBOTS
title_sort adaptive distribution of a swarm of heterogeneous robots
topic heterogeneous multi-robot systems
swarm robotics
stochastic systems
task allocation
url https://ojs.cvut.cz/ojs/index.php/ap/article/view/3438
work_keys_str_mv AT amandaprorok adaptivedistributionofaswarmofheterogeneousrobots
AT manihsieh adaptivedistributionofaswarmofheterogeneousrobots
AT vijaykumar adaptivedistributionofaswarmofheterogeneousrobots