Swarm Robotics: Dynamic and self-organising mobile robot systems

Mobile robots are increasingly emerging as enablers to create more dynamic manufacturing systems. These systems are expected to quickly adjust to changing requirements and respond more resiliently to disturbances. This is particularly interesting for large structures, highly complex product assembly processes that traditionally rely on dedicated and inflexible automation solutions with very rigid high cost structures. Swarms of mobile robots are expected to allow more dynamic scheduling of assembly, logistics and inspection activities. However, the complex interactions and emergent properties of such dynamic systems have not yet been fully understood and need in depth investigation.
This PhD project will provide the opportunity for an excellent candidate to explore new distributed control methods to manage an increasingly larger fleets of interacting mobile robots with various different skills (process capabilities). Latest algorithms from swarm robotics will be explored to design mobile systems with highly resilient emerging behaviours required for aerospace and automotive applications. A combination of dynamic mission planning (central level) with local self-reliance (independent mobile robot control) will likely play a key role in this project. Agent-based technology as well as the Robot Operating System will be used to inform future dynamic manufacturing control systems.