Biomimetic Algorithms for Coordinated Motion: Theory and Implementation

TL;DR

This paper presents biologically inspired algorithms for multi-agent robotic coordination, demonstrating their implementation in a laboratory setting for coverage and flocking behaviors.

Contribution

It introduces two novel strategies inspired by biological flight behaviors for coverage and flocking, with practical implementation on wheeled robots.

Findings

Successful implementation of a control law for area coverage.

Demonstration of topological velocity alignment for flocking.

Validation of biological inspiration in robotic collective behavior.

Abstract

Drawing inspiration from flight behavior in biological settings (e.g. territorial battles in dragonflies, and flocking in starlings), this paper demonstrates two strategies for coverage and flocking. Using earlier theoretical studies on mutual motion camouflage, an appropriate steering control law for area coverage has been implemented in a laboratory test-bed equipped with wheeled mobile robots and a Vicon high speed motion capture system. The same test-bed is also used to demonstrate another strategy (based on local information), termed topological velocity alignment, which serves to make agents move in the same direction. The present work illustrates the applicability of biological inspiration in the design of multi-agent robotic collectives.