A Study on Cellular Robotic System. A Realization of a Robotic System Capable of Adaptation, Self-organization, and Self-evolution.

摘要

This paper deals with a robotic system which is required to exhibit adaptability and have the capability of self-organization, and self-evolution. One such robotic system to realize this type of configuration has been studied by the authors. It is called a cellular robotic system (hereinafter call CEBOT) . CEBOT consists of many kinds of functional units. Each unit is called a “cell”, which possesses at least one function, and its own intelligence. The fundamental concept of CEBOT is based on biological systems which are adaptable and capable of self-organization, and self-evolution. Like the biological system, many cells can organize a structure to integrate the tiny functions of single cell. Therefore, the whole structure can execute complicated tasks which can not be carried out by a cell. This paper covers essential issues to develop a type of multi-agent robotic system as follows : the fundamental concept of CEBOT and the definition of the “cell”, the control law for cells to realize the “function amplification” which is a newly proposed concept, the hardware and the software configuration, and the optimizing method of the structure for both the hardware and the software of CEBOT.