Towards Agrirobot Digital Twins: Agri-RO5—A Multi-Agent Architecture for Dynamic Fleet Simulation

In this paper, we propose a multi-agent-based architecture for a Unity3D simulation of dynamic agrirobot-fleet-coordination methods. The architecture is based on a Robot Operating System (ROS) and Agrobots-SIM package that extends the existing package Patrolling SIM made for multi-robot patrolling....

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Main Authors: Jorge Gutiérrez Cejudo, Francisco Enguix Andrés, Marin Lujak, Carlos Carrascosa Casamayor, Alberto Fernandez, Luís Hernández López
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-12-01
Series:Electronics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/13/1/80
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author Jorge Gutiérrez Cejudo
Francisco Enguix Andrés
Marin Lujak
Carlos Carrascosa Casamayor
Alberto Fernandez
Luís Hernández López
author_facet Jorge Gutiérrez Cejudo
Francisco Enguix Andrés
Marin Lujak
Carlos Carrascosa Casamayor
Alberto Fernandez
Luís Hernández López
author_sort Jorge Gutiérrez Cejudo
collection DOAJ
description In this paper, we propose a multi-agent-based architecture for a Unity3D simulation of dynamic agrirobot-fleet-coordination methods. The architecture is based on a Robot Operating System (ROS) and Agrobots-SIM package that extends the existing package Patrolling SIM made for multi-robot patrolling. The Agrobots-SIM package accommodates dynamic multi-robot task allocation and vehicle routing considering limited robot battery autonomy. Moreover, it accommodates the dynamic assignment of implements to robots for the execution of heterogeneous tasks. The system coordinates task assignment and vehicle routing in real time and responds to unforeseen contingencies during simulation considering dynamic updates of the data related to the environment, tasks, implements, and robots. Except for the ROS and Agrobots-SIM package, other crucial components of the architecture include SPADE3 middleware for developing and executing multi-agent decision making and the FIVE framework that allows us to seamlessly define the environment and incorporate the Agrobots-SIM algorithms to be validated into SPADE agents inhabiting such an environment. We compare the proposed simulation architecture with the conventional approach to 3D multi-robot simulation in Gazebo. The functioning of the simulation architecture is demonstrated in several use-case experiments. Even though resource consumption and community support are still an open challenge in Unity3D, the proposed Agri-RO5 architecture gives better results in terms of simulation realism and scalability.
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spelling doaj.art-bba43b0d36a6487e9a7568078c7607df2024-01-10T14:54:22ZengMDPI AGElectronics2079-92922023-12-011318010.3390/electronics13010080Towards Agrirobot Digital Twins: Agri-RO5—A Multi-Agent Architecture for Dynamic Fleet SimulationJorge Gutiérrez Cejudo0Francisco Enguix Andrés1Marin Lujak2Carlos Carrascosa Casamayor3Alberto Fernandez4Luís Hernández López5Research Centre for Intelligent Information Technologies (CETINIA), University Rey Juan Carlos, 28933 Madrid, SpainValencian Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence (VRAIN), Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), 46022 Valencia, SpainResearch Centre for Intelligent Information Technologies (CETINIA), University Rey Juan Carlos, 28933 Madrid, SpainValencian Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence (VRAIN), Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), 46022 Valencia, SpainResearch Centre for Intelligent Information Technologies (CETINIA), University Rey Juan Carlos, 28933 Madrid, SpainValencian Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence (VRAIN), Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), 46022 Valencia, SpainIn this paper, we propose a multi-agent-based architecture for a Unity3D simulation of dynamic agrirobot-fleet-coordination methods. The architecture is based on a Robot Operating System (ROS) and Agrobots-SIM package that extends the existing package Patrolling SIM made for multi-robot patrolling. The Agrobots-SIM package accommodates dynamic multi-robot task allocation and vehicle routing considering limited robot battery autonomy. Moreover, it accommodates the dynamic assignment of implements to robots for the execution of heterogeneous tasks. The system coordinates task assignment and vehicle routing in real time and responds to unforeseen contingencies during simulation considering dynamic updates of the data related to the environment, tasks, implements, and robots. Except for the ROS and Agrobots-SIM package, other crucial components of the architecture include SPADE3 middleware for developing and executing multi-agent decision making and the FIVE framework that allows us to seamlessly define the environment and incorporate the Agrobots-SIM algorithms to be validated into SPADE agents inhabiting such an environment. We compare the proposed simulation architecture with the conventional approach to 3D multi-robot simulation in Gazebo. The functioning of the simulation architecture is demonstrated in several use-case experiments. Even though resource consumption and community support are still an open challenge in Unity3D, the proposed Agri-RO5 architecture gives better results in terms of simulation realism and scalability.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/13/1/80distributed MASUnity3DSPADE3FIVEagrirobotsROS
spellingShingle Jorge Gutiérrez Cejudo
Francisco Enguix Andrés
Marin Lujak
Carlos Carrascosa Casamayor
Alberto Fernandez
Luís Hernández López
Towards Agrirobot Digital Twins: Agri-RO5—A Multi-Agent Architecture for Dynamic Fleet Simulation
Electronics
distributed MAS
Unity3D
SPADE3
FIVE
agrirobots
ROS
title Towards Agrirobot Digital Twins: Agri-RO5—A Multi-Agent Architecture for Dynamic Fleet Simulation
title_full Towards Agrirobot Digital Twins: Agri-RO5—A Multi-Agent Architecture for Dynamic Fleet Simulation
title_fullStr Towards Agrirobot Digital Twins: Agri-RO5—A Multi-Agent Architecture for Dynamic Fleet Simulation
title_full_unstemmed Towards Agrirobot Digital Twins: Agri-RO5—A Multi-Agent Architecture for Dynamic Fleet Simulation
title_short Towards Agrirobot Digital Twins: Agri-RO5—A Multi-Agent Architecture for Dynamic Fleet Simulation
title_sort towards agrirobot digital twins agri ro5 a multi agent architecture for dynamic fleet simulation
topic distributed MAS
Unity3D
SPADE3
FIVE
agrirobots
ROS
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/13/1/80
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