Automatic deployment and formation control of decentralized multi-agent networks

Abstract

Novel tools are needed to deploy multi-agent networks in applications that require a high degree of accuracy in the achievement and maintenance of geometric formations. This is the case when deploying distributed sensing devices across large spatial domains. Through so-called embedded graph grammars (EGGs), this paper develops a method for automatically generating control programs that ensure that a multi-robot network is deployed according to the desired configuration. This paper presents a communication protocol needed for implementing and executing the control programs in an accurate and deadlock-free manner.