I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen a lot of science fiction movies in my time and it’s beginning to seem like they’re predicting the future. Ya, I know what you’re gonna say…”duhhh”. Well, I don’t mean just in a good way like space travel and tricorders, but in a slightly more maniacal way too. I mean really, I don’t think it’s the best idea to teach primates to speak, give machines self-awareness, or start passing out green colored “mystery food” in the shape of squares. So when I saw the title of this particular article “Robots to organize themselves like a swarm of insects” it got my attention. Now, it’s not necessarily a hive mind they’re talking about…oh wait…yes it is.

‘We rely on agent-based software and use ant algorithms based on the work of [swarm robotics expert] Marco Dorigo. These are methods of combinational optimisation based on the model behaviour of real ants in their search for food.’

Ok, ok…I know we’re not talking about cybernetically altered sentient beings, but the tech seems to be eerily similar to some hive-like technology we’re all familiar with.

The autonomous Multishuttle Moves vehicles, developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML) in Dortmund, operate without the need for a central controller to allocate tasks and give precise instructions.

When the warehouse receives an order, the shuttles communicate with one another via a wireless internet connection and the closest free vehicle takes over and completes the task.

I have to admit these are some pretty cool advances in robotics with very relevant applications that can be adjusted to serve many different fields.

The vehicles move around the warehouse without external instruction using a hybrid sensor concept based on radio signals, distance and acceleration sensors and laser scanners to work out the shortest route to any destination and avoid collisions.

‘In the future, transport systems should be able to perform all of these tasks autonomously, from removal from storage at the shelf to delivery to a picking station. This will provide an alternative to conventional materials-handling solutions,’ said Prof Michael ten Hompel, executive director at IML.

It’s actually neat, that we’re making life easier for humans with all this fancy newfangled technology. All I’m asking for is that when we as a species are making advancements in this direction that we make sure and think of all the possible robotic overlord ramifications. Even Dr. Soong was thoughtful enough to install an “off switch”.

Read the full article here.

(Source; The Engineer)