Generalizing metamodules to simplify planning in modular robotic systems

— In this paper we develop a theory of metamodules and an associated distributed asynchronous planner which generalizes previous work on metamodules for lattice-based modular robotic systems. All extant modular robotic systems have some form of non-holonomic motion constraints. This has prompted many researchers to look to metamodules, i.e., groups of modules that act as a unit, as a way to reduce motion constraints and the complexity of planning. However, previous metamodule designs have been specific to a particular modular robot. By analyzing the constraints found in modular robotic systems we develop a holonomic metamodule which has two important properties: (1) it can be used as the basic unit of an efficient planner and (2) it can be instantiated by a wide variety of different underlying modular robots, e.g., modular robot arms, expanding cubes, hex-packed spheres, etc. Using a series of transformations we show that our practical metamodule system has a provably complete plan...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: IROS
• Authors: Daniel J. Dewey, Michael P. Ashley-Rollman, Michael DeRosa, Seth Copen Goldstein, Todd C. Mowry, Siddhartha S. Srinivasa, Padmanabhan Pillai, Jason Campbell
• Keywords: IROS 2008, Modular Robotic Systems, Motion Constraints, Particular Modular Robot, Robotics