Object Transport by Modular Robots that Self-assemble

— We present a first attempt to accomplish a simple object manipulation task using the self-reconfigurable robotic system swarm-bot. The number of modular entities involved, their global shape or size and their internal structure are not pre-determined, but result from a self-organized process in which the modules autonomously grasp each other and/or an object. The modules are autonomous in perception, control, action, and power. We present quantitative results, obtained with six physical modules, that confirm the utility of self-assembling robots in a concrete task.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2006
• Where: ICRA
• Authors: Roderich Groß, Elio Tuci, Marco Dorigo, Michael Bonani, Francesco Mondada
• Keywords: ICRA 2006, Modular Entities, Object Manipulation Task, Robotics, first Attempt