Designing the Concurrent Searching and Pathfinding Algorithm for Swarm Robotics

The problem of finding a target and forming a path to it is known and is well-explored in the field of swarm robotics. Using swarm intelligence, even swarms of simple robots are capable of solving this problem. However, often these works assume that two robots can perceive each other can physically reach each other, or that robots can detect any...

Evolving State Machines as Robot Controllers

Automated generation of robot controllers using an Evolutionary Algorithm(EA) has received increasing attention in the last years as it has the potentialfor a reduction in the development time of a robot. Often these EAs generateNeural Networks (NNs) as robot controllers. Using a NN for automaticallygenerating robot controllers has two important...

Lunar Zebro - Software Design Of The Locomotion Sub-System With The Dezyne Model Driven Development Tool

The TU Delft ZEs-Benige RObot (Zebro) project is presented with the opportunity to bring the Zebro concept to the surface of our moon. To maximise the probability of success, the Locomotion Sub-System (LSS) software of Lunar Zebro is developed using a novel model-driven design tool called Dezyne. Dezyne uses a proprietary language to describe...

Swarm Behaviour for the Zebro Robot

Nature has found many interesting solutions to similar problems that we face with robots. Swarming in robotics is an interesting field to reduce cost and risk, and provide a scalable solution to certain problems. The Zebro Project of the TU Delft performs research in the field of swarm robotics using the six legged robot, called a Zebro. Swarm...

Safety and Sensing: submodule of the Environment Observation Module

This bachelor thesis is about the design of the Safety and Sensing module, which is part of the Environment Observation Module for Deci Zebro robots. This Environment Observation Module is developed at the faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) of Delft University of Technology. Zebro robots were not able to...

Development of an Omni-directional distance sensing system for the Deci Zebro

In this thesis, we describe the design process of a distance sensing system for the Deci Zebro swarm robots. We use a technique that transmits a radio frequency message and a ultrasonic pulse concurrently. Due to the difference in propagation speed of both signals, the distance could be measured using time difference of arrival (TDOA). A cone...

Autonomous charging station for the ZEBRO

The ZEBRO is a fully autonomous six-legged robot designed for swarm behaviour and is the size of an A4 sheet of paper. However, there does not exist an charging station for the ZEBRO yet. At this time, the battery still has to be replaced manually, which defeats the purpose of an autonomous system. An autonomous charging station has to be...

Obstacle and Cliff Detection for Robotics Applications Using Miniturized Sonar and IR Distance Triangulation: Environment Observation Module For The Deci Zebro

This is a bachelor thesis about the design and development of an observation and sensing module for the Deci Zebro robot that is being developed at the EEMCS faculty of Delft University of Technology.<br/>This part of the thesis is about the development of a cliff- and obstacle detection system, as well as the...

Localisation and Communication for Autonomous Deci-Zebros: Localisation and System Integration

This document describes the Bachelor Graduation Project of the Communication and System integration group of the Zebro Localisation and Communication Module. The module has been designed for a Zebro which is a six legged robot with the purpose of working in swarm-related behaviour. To make this behaviour possible a new Localisation module for...

Designing a robust robot leg module

This thesis describes the development of a cheap and robust leg module for a modular robot. It begins with the selection of three suitable motors sourced from three different suppliers. Next, these motors are thoroughly tested, and based on the test results their efficiency is maximised. Then, the mechanical structure of the leg module and its...

Fundamentals For An Autonomous Zebro Swarm

In this thesis, a swarm is defined as:<br/>”A swarm is a large number of homogenous, unsophisticated agents that interact locally<br/>among themselves and their environment, without any central control or management to<br/>yield a global behaviour to emerge.”<br/>The bigger perspective is to have the units within a swarm operate for a...