EVOLVINGROBOT · Autonomous evolution of robotic organisms
7РП — „Хора“ (Действия „Мария Кюри“)
- Период
- 2010-09-01 → 2013-08-31
- Финансиране от ЕС
- 45 000 €
- Участници
- 1
- Схема
- MC-ERG
Линиите свързват координатора с партньорите.
Накратко на български
Миниатюрни роботизирани единици се изследват за способността им да се свързват физически или да си сътрудничат при пренасяне на обекти без взаимна комуникация. Подходът помага да се разбере как сложни функции могат да бъдат постигнати чрез изключително прости механизми.
Кратко обяснение, генерирано от езиков модел по текста на CORDIS. Оригиналът е по-долу.
Резултати накратко
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.
Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз
Цел на проекта
It has been observed that discrete and autonomous entities, from molecular to planetary scale, bind to each other, and thereby, organize into patterns and structures without being directed externally. The underlying process, termed self-assembly, encouraged researchers from many disciplines to study the design of modular and collective robot systems in which new entities arise autonomously by self-assembling. However, the capabilities of such systems are vastly unexplored, mainly due to shortcomings in current hardware implementations.In this project, we design a novel type of self-assembling system that is composed of macroscopic building blocks that float in an agitated medium. The dynamism of the medium allows the blocks to physically bind with and disband from each other. This is expected to result in the emergence, reproduction, and evolution of life-like organisms. The process will be governed solely by the building block's local interactions in the absence of any blueprint or central command. It will drive the system towards a population of organisms that are adapted to their environment. Fitness, here is fully implicit, and reflects an organism's ability to reproduce. To do so, its phenotype must accumulate further building blocks and harvest enough energy from the environment to sustain itself.The structure of the project is such that it helps the applicant to establish his own research laboratory at the host organization while at the same time build up a lasting collaboration with his previous host organization. The project will keep the applicant at the forefront of self-assembly research. The results are expected to provide a vital insight into evolutionary processes (e.g., demonstrating that non-biological matter can evolve), drive technology (e.g., observing populations of energy autonomous robots over weeks or months), and, in the medium-term, have a high impact on education (e.g., physical demonstrators of evolution in science museums).
Оригинален текст от CORDIS (на английски).
Участници
- THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD · SHEFFIELDКоординаторОбединеното кралство
Връзки
Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз