Final Report Summary - EVOLVINGROBOT (Autonomous evolution of robotic organisms)
This project addressed one of the grand challenges in robotics – how a robotic system can exhibit properties of living beings. In particular, we studied how complex patterns or structures can arise in systems of numerous interacting robotic units.
The first part of the project investigated centimeter-scale robotic units that are externally propelled; the units float on an air table system and interact at random. Upon contact, they can physically latch on to each other and thereby form larger robotic entities. We have developed a series of new prototype units with unique, life-like properties: (i) being able to harvest energy from the environment, (ii) being able to respond to stimuli from the environment, (iii) being able to control when to move, and therefore, indirectly, where to move. In addition, we have developed a self-folding, modular robot that is able to transform between 2-D and 3-D configurations.
The second part of the project investigated centimeter-scale robotic units that are self-propelled. We reported results obtained with up to 40 miniature mobile robots that demonstrate their capabilities in a range of scenarios, including gathering in a common place, cooperatively transporting tall objects, segregating into distinct sub-groups, and cleaning up an area. We discovered that none of these tasks require the robots to communicate with each other. Moreover, some of these tasks do not even require the robots to have memory, or to be able to compute.
The results obtained may lead to a paradigm change in robotics. Rather than building robots of ever increasing complexity, they suggest that a range of capabilities can be realized with exceedingly simple mechanisms. Our truly minimalistic approach may pave the way for implementing massively distributed robotic systems at scales where conventional approaches to sensing and information processing are no longer applicable.
Finally, the European Reintegration Grant also gave the scientist in charge the opportunity to initiate further lines of research, for example, that of building a machine that learns autonomously about an animal through interaction. It made possible the foundation of the Natural Robotics Lab, led by the scientist in charge. Moreover, it helped him to obtain a senior faculty position, and also made positive contributions to the career development of the students he supervised.
The first part of the project investigated centimeter-scale robotic units that are externally propelled; the units float on an air table system and interact at random. Upon contact, they can physically latch on to each other and thereby form larger robotic entities. We have developed a series of new prototype units with unique, life-like properties: (i) being able to harvest energy from the environment, (ii) being able to respond to stimuli from the environment, (iii) being able to control when to move, and therefore, indirectly, where to move. In addition, we have developed a self-folding, modular robot that is able to transform between 2-D and 3-D configurations.
The second part of the project investigated centimeter-scale robotic units that are self-propelled. We reported results obtained with up to 40 miniature mobile robots that demonstrate their capabilities in a range of scenarios, including gathering in a common place, cooperatively transporting tall objects, segregating into distinct sub-groups, and cleaning up an area. We discovered that none of these tasks require the robots to communicate with each other. Moreover, some of these tasks do not even require the robots to have memory, or to be able to compute.
The results obtained may lead to a paradigm change in robotics. Rather than building robots of ever increasing complexity, they suggest that a range of capabilities can be realized with exceedingly simple mechanisms. Our truly minimalistic approach may pave the way for implementing massively distributed robotic systems at scales where conventional approaches to sensing and information processing are no longer applicable.
Finally, the European Reintegration Grant also gave the scientist in charge the opportunity to initiate further lines of research, for example, that of building a machine that learns autonomously about an animal through interaction. It made possible the foundation of the Natural Robotics Lab, led by the scientist in charge. Moreover, it helped him to obtain a senior faculty position, and also made positive contributions to the career development of the students he supervised.