Controlling Multi-Robot Systems

Drones have proved useful for a variety of applications in recent years. Single drones have many uses, but groups of drones working together could expand their capabilities. These multi-agent systems, however, are more difficult to program and control.

Graduate student Ali Tevfik Buyukkocak, in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, is developing algorithms for motion planning and control of multi-robot systems. These algorithms would be able guide a team of drones and robots - for example, a team that includes both aerial drones and ground robots - performing complex spatio-temporal tasks. The ultimate goal of this project is to create computationally efficient optimization algorithms to coordinate and control these systems efficiently.

Some funding for this project was provided by a 2021 University of Minnesota Informatics Institute MnDRIVE PhD Graduate Assistantship. The UMII MnDRIVE Graduate Assistantship program supports UMN PhD candidates pursuing research at the intersection of informatics and any of the five MnDRIVE areas:

• Robotics, Sensors and Advanced Manufacturing
• Global Food Ventures
• Advancing Industry, Conserving Our Environment
• Discoveries and Treatments for Brain Conditions
• Cancer Clinical Trials.

This project is part of the Robotics, Sensors and Advanced Manufacturing MnDRIVE area.

Research Computing partners:

• University of Minnesota Informatics Institute (funding)