Multi-Robot System Control Architecture (MRSCA) for Agricultural Production

Authors

Santosh Pitla, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Joe D. Luck, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Scott A. Shearer, University of KentuckyFollow

Date of this Version

6-2010

Citation

An ASABE Meeting Presentation, Paper Number: 1008703

Written for presentation at the 2010 ASABE Annual International Meeting Sponsored by ASABE David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania June 20 – June 23, 2010

Comments

Used by permission.

Abstract

Coordinating multiple autonomous robots for achieving an assigned collective task presents a complex engineering challenge. In this paper multi robot system control architecture (MRSCA) for the coordination of multiple agricultural robots is developed. The two important aspects of MRSCA; coordination strategy and inter-robot communication were discussed with typical agricultural tasks as examples. Classification of MRS into homogeneous and heterogeneous robots was done to identify appropriate form of cooperative behavior and inter-robot communication. The framework developed, proposes that inter-robot communication is not always required for a MRS. Three types of cooperative behaviors; No-cooperation, modest cooperation and absolute cooperation for a MRS were devised for accomplishing a variety of coordinated operations in agricultural production