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2008
Conference Paper
Titel
Implications of swarm-like co-ordinated behaviour of mobile robots
Abstract
Swarm behaviour has been successfully introduced into the field of micro- and nano-robotics, enhancing the swarm's capabilities over the use of an equal number of single robots. Within a large number of micro robots, communication is based on local interaction. The exploration of the environment and the navigation can be left to the swarm, eliminating the need for each member being capable of individual orientation. When talking about service robots in a health care setting however, things change. Single robots become discernible, have individual capabilities, and their number is much fewer. This paper introduces the concept of swarm-like collective behaviour in service robotics instancing IWARD project. IWARD, the 'Intelligent Robot Swarm for Attendance, Recognition, Cleaning and Delivery' aims to develop a team of robots supporting personnel of hospitals and healthcare institutions in their daily work by performing routine tasks as delivery or cleaning. An overview on design alternatives is also given and the main implications on related fields in robotic research are pointed out.