Modular robotic systems built of reconfigurable components offer an efficient and versatile alternative to traditional monolithic robots. However, as modular systems scale up, construction efficiency is compromised due to an increase in travel time and path planning complexity. We introduce a discrete modular material robot system that is capable of serial, recursive (making more robots), and hierarchical (making larger robots) assembly. The component composition is supported by an algorithm to compile the building blocks into swarms and plan the optimal construction path.
Our approach challenges the convention that larger constructions need larger machines to build them, and could be applied in areas that today either require substantial capital investments for fixed infrastructure or are altogether
unfeasible.
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CBA| 2022 | Group of 3