From Roles to Anatomy to Scalable Modular Self-Reconfigurable Robots

@article{campbell-ijrr-srmr,
  author = {Campbell, Jason D. and Pillai, Padmanabhan},
  title = {Collective Actuation},
  journal = {International Journal of Robotics Research},
  year = {2007},
  keywords = {Actuation, Controlling Ensembles},
  abstract = {Modular robot designers confront an inherent tradeoff
     between size and power: Smaller, more numerous modules increase
     the adaptability of a given volume or mass of robot---allowing
     the aggregate robot to take on a wider variety of
     configurations---but do so at a cost of reducing the power and
     complexity budget of each module. Fewer, larger modules can
     incorporate more powerful actuators and stronger hinges but at a
     cost of overspecializing the resulting robot in favor of
     corresponding uses. In the paper we describe a technique for
     coordinating the efforts of many tiny modules to achieve forces
     and movements larger than those possible for individual modules.
     In a broad sense, the question of actuator capacity and range
     thus may become one of software coding and ensemble topology as
     well as of hardware design. An important aspect of this technique
     is its ability to bend complex and large-scale structures and to
     realize the equivalent of large scale joints. Although our
     results do not suggest that modular robots will replace high
     power purpose-built robots, they do offer an increase in the
     plausible scalability of modular robot self-reconfiguration and
     facilitate a corresponding increase in adaptability.}
}

@inproceedings{Christensen-iros07,
  author = {Christensen, David Johan and Campbell, Jason D.},
  title = {From Roles to Anatomy to Scalable Modular
     Self-Reconfigurable Robots},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on
     Intelligent Robots and Systems {IROS '07}},
  keywords = {Biologically Inspired, Actuation, Controlling
     Ensembles},
  year = {2007}
}

@inproceedings{Christensen-icra07,
  author = {Christensen, David Johan and Campbell, Jason D.},
  title = {Locomotion of Miniature Catom Chains: Scale Effects on Gait
     and Velocity},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on
     Robotics and Automation ({ICRA '07})},
  month = {April},
  keywords = {Biologically Inspired, Actuation, Controlling
     Ensembles},
  year = {2007}
}

@inproceedings{campbell-rss06,
  author = {Campbell, Jason D. and Pillai, Padmanabhan},
  title = {Collective Actuation},
  booktitle = {RSS 2006 Workshop on Self-Reconfigurable Modular
     Robots},
  year = {2006},
  month = {August},
  keywords = {Actuation, Controlling Ensembles},
  url = {http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~claytronics/papers/campbell-rss06.pdf},
  abstract = {Modular robot designers confront an inherent tradeoff
     between size and power: Smaller, more numerous modules increase
     the adaptability of a given volume or mass of modules---allowing
     the aggregate robot to take on a wider variety of configurations
     – but do so at the expense of the power and complexity of each
     module. Fewer, larger modules can incorporate more powerful
     actuators, more powerful bonds, and stronger hinges but at a cost
     of overspecializing the resulting robot in favor of
     correspond-ing uses. We describe a technique for coordinating the
     efforts of many tiny modules to achieve forces and movements
     be-yond those possible for individual modules. Our approach is
     predominantly applicable to spherical and cylindrical modules and
     their faceted counterparts, but may apply to some chain-style
     modular robot systems. Thus actuator capacity and range becomes a
     function of software and dynamic topology as well as of hardware.
     An important aspect of this technique is its ability to bend
     complex and large-scale structures and to realize the equivalent
     of large scale joints.}
}

@inproceedings{bhat06,
  author = {Bhat, Preethi Srinivas and Kuffner, James and Goldstein,
     Seth Copen and Srinivasa, Siddhartha S.},
  title = {Hierarchical Motion Planning for Self-reconfigurable
     Modular Robots},
  booktitle = {2006 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent
     Robots and Systems (IROS)},
  year = {2006},
  month = {October},
  keywords = {Planning, Controlling Ensembles, Hierarchical
     Algorithms},
  url = {http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~claytronics/papers/bhat06.pdf},
  abstract = {Motion planning for a self-reconfigurable robot involves
     coordinating the movement and connectivity of each of its
     homogeneous modules. Reconfiguration occurs when the shape of the
     robot changes from some initial configuration to a target
     configuration. Finding an optimal solution to reconfiguration
     problems involves searching the space of possible robot
     configurations. As this space grows exponentially with the number
     of modules, optimal planning becomes intractable. We propose a
     hierarchical planning approach that computes heuristic global
     reconfiguration strategies efficiently. Our approach consists of
     a base planner that computes an optimal solution for a few
     modules and a hierarchical planner that calls this base planner
     or reuses pre-computed plans at each level of the hierarchy to
     ultimately compute a global suboptimal solution. We present
     results from a prototype implementation of the method that
     efficiently plans for self-reconfigurable robots with several
     thousand modules.We also discuss tradeoffs and performance issues
     including scalability, heuristics and plan optimality.}
}

@inproceedings{derosa-icra06,
  author = {De~Rosa, Michael and Goldstein, Seth Copen and Lee, Peter
     and Campbell, Jason D. and Pillai, Padmanabhan},
  title = {Scalable Shape Sculpting via Hole Motion: Motion Planning
     in Lattice-Constrained Module Robots},
  month = {May},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the 2006 {IEEE} International Conference
     on Robotics and Automation (ICRA '06)},
  year = {2006},
  keywords = {Planning, Controlling Ensembles, Stochastic Algorithms},
  url = {http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~claytronics/papers/derosa-icra06.pdf},
  abstract = {We describe a novel shape formation algorithm for
     ensembles of 2-dimensional lattice-arrayed modular robots, based
     on the manipulation of regularly shaped voids within the lattice
     (``holes''). The algorithm is massively parallel and fully
     distributed. Constructing a goal shape requires time proportional
     only to the complexity of the desired target geometry.
     Construction of the shape by the modules requires no global
     communication nor broadcast floods after distribution of the
     target shape. Results in simulation show 97.3\% shape compliance
     in ensembles of approximately 60,000 modules, and we believe that
     the algorithm will generalize to 3D and scale to handle millions
     of modules.}
}

@inproceedings{bkirby-iros07,
  author = {Kirby, Brian and Aksak, Burak and Goldstein, Seth Copen
     and Hoburg, James F. and Mowry, Todd C. and Pillai, Padmanabhan},
  title = {A Modular Robotic System Using Magnetic Force Effectors},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on
     Intelligent Robots and Systems ({IROS '07})},
  year = {2007},
  month = {October},
  abstract = {One of the primary impediments to building ensembles
     with many modular robots is the complexity and number of
     mechanical mechanisms used to construct the individual modules.
     As part of the Claytronics project---which aims to build very
     large ensembles of modular robots---we investigate how to
     simplify each module by eliminating moving parts and reducing the
     number of mechanical mechanisms on each robot by using
     force-at-a-distance actuators. Additionally, we are also
     investigating the feasibility of using these unary actuators to
     improve docking performance, implement intermodule adhesion,
     power transfer, communication, and sensing.},
  keywords = {Actuation, Adhesion},
  url = {http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~claytronics/papers/bkirby-iros07.pdf}
}

@article{campbell-ijrr-srmr,
  author = {Campbell, Jason D. and Pillai, Padmanabhan},
  title = {Collective Actuation},
  journal = {International Journal of Robotics Research},
  year = {2007},
  keywords = {Actuation, Controlling Ensembles},
  abstract = {Modular robot designers confront an inherent tradeoff
     between size and power: Smaller, more numerous modules increase
     the adaptability of a given volume or mass of robot---allowing
     the aggregate robot to take on a wider variety of
     configurations---but do so at a cost of reducing the power and
     complexity budget of each module. Fewer, larger modules can
     incorporate more powerful actuators and stronger hinges but at a
     cost of overspecializing the resulting robot in favor of
     corresponding uses. In the paper we describe a technique for
     coordinating the efforts of many tiny modules to achieve forces
     and movements larger than those possible for individual modules.
     In a broad sense, the question of actuator capacity and range
     thus may become one of software coding and ensemble topology as
     well as of hardware design. An important aspect of this technique
     is its ability to bend complex and large-scale structures and to
     realize the equivalent of large scale joints. Although our
     results do not suggest that modular robots will replace high
     power purpose-built robots, they do offer an increase in the
     plausible scalability of modular robot self-reconfiguration and
     facilitate a corresponding increase in adaptability.}
}

@inproceedings{karagozler-iros07,
  author = {Karagozler, Mustafa Emre and Campbell, Jason D. and
     Fedder, Gary K. and Goldstein, Seth Copen and Weller, Michael
     Philetus and Yoon, Byung W.},
  title = {Electrostatic Latching for Inter-module Adhesion, Power
     Transfer, and Communication in Modular Robots},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on
     Intelligent Robots and Systems ({IROS '07})},
  see = {karagozler-msreport07},
  year = {2007},
  month = {October},
  abstract = {A simple and robust inter-module latch is possibly the
     most important component of a modular robotic system. This paper
     describes a latch based on capacitive coupling which not only
     provides significant adhesion forces, but can also be used for
     inter-module power transmission and communication. The key
     insight that enables electrostatic adhesion to be effective at
     the macroscale is to combine flexible electrodes with a geometery
     that uses shear forces to provide adhesion. To measure the
     effectiveness of our latch we incorporated it into a 28cm x 28cm
     x 28cm modular robot. The result is a latch which requires almost
     zero static power and yet can hold over 0.6N/cm^2 of latch
     area.},
  keywords = {Actuation, Adhesion},
  url = {http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~claytronics/papers/karagozler-iros07.pdf}
}

@inproceedings{Christensen-iros07,
  author = {Christensen, David Johan and Campbell, Jason D.},
  title = {From Roles to Anatomy to Scalable Modular
     Self-Reconfigurable Robots},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on
     Intelligent Robots and Systems {IROS '07}},
  keywords = {Biologically Inspired, Actuation, Controlling
     Ensembles},
  year = {2007}
}

@mastersthesis{karagozler-msreport07,
  author = {Karagozler, Mustafa Emre},
  title = {Harnessing Capacitance for Inter-Robot Latching,
     Communication, and Power Transfer},
  also = {Electrostatic Latching for Inter-module Adhesion, Power
     Transfer, and Communication in Modular Robots in IROS '07},
  month = {May},
  year = {2007},
  school = {Carnegie Mellon University},
  abstract = {A simple and robust inter-module latch is possibly the
     most important component of a modular robotic system. This report
     describes a latch based on capacitive coupling which not only
     provides significant adhesion forces, but can also be used for
     inter-module power transmission and communication. The key
     insight that enables electrostatic adhesion to be effective at
     the macro scale is to combine flexible electrodes with a geometry
     that uses shear forces to provide adhesion. To measure the
     effectiveness of our latch we incorporated it into a 28cm x 28cm
     x 28cm modular robot. The result is a latch which requires almost
     zero static power and yet can hold over 0.6N/cm2 of latch area.},
  keywords = {Actuation, Adhesion, Power Routing},
  url = {http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~claytronics/papers/karagozler-msreport07.pdf}
}

@inproceedings{Christensen-icra07,
  author = {Christensen, David Johan and Campbell, Jason D.},
  title = {Locomotion of Miniature Catom Chains: Scale Effects on Gait
     and Velocity},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on
     Robotics and Automation ({ICRA '07})},
  month = {April},
  keywords = {Biologically Inspired, Actuation, Controlling
     Ensembles},
  year = {2007}
}

@inproceedings{campbell-rss06,
  author = {Campbell, Jason D. and Pillai, Padmanabhan},
  title = {Collective Actuation},
  booktitle = {RSS 2006 Workshop on Self-Reconfigurable Modular
     Robots},
  year = {2006},
  month = {August},
  keywords = {Actuation, Controlling Ensembles},
  url = {http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~claytronics/papers/campbell-rss06.pdf},
  abstract = {Modular robot designers confront an inherent tradeoff
     between size and power: Smaller, more numerous modules increase
     the adaptability of a given volume or mass of modules---allowing
     the aggregate robot to take on a wider variety of configurations
     – but do so at the expense of the power and complexity of each
     module. Fewer, larger modules can incorporate more powerful
     actuators, more powerful bonds, and stronger hinges but at a cost
     of overspecializing the resulting robot in favor of
     correspond-ing uses. We describe a technique for coordinating the
     efforts of many tiny modules to achieve forces and movements
     be-yond those possible for individual modules. Our approach is
     predominantly applicable to spherical and cylindrical modules and
     their faceted counterparts, but may apply to some chain-style
     modular robot systems. Thus actuator capacity and range becomes a
     function of software and dynamic topology as well as of hardware.
     An important aspect of this technique is its ability to bend
     complex and large-scale structures and to realize the equivalent
     of large scale joints.}
}

@article{aksak-langmuir2007,
  author = {Aksak, Burak and Murphy, M.P. and Sitti, Metin},
  title = {Adhesion of Biologically Inspired Vertical and Angled
     Polymer Microfiber Arrays},
  journal = {Langmuir},
  year = {2007},
  month = {February},
  volume = {23},
  pages = {3322--32},
  number = {6},
  institution = {NanoRobotics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical
     Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
     15213},
  issn = {0743-7463},
  keywords = {Adhesion, Biologically Inspired},
  abstract = {This paper proposes an approximate adhesion model for
     fibrillar adhesives for developing a fibrillar adhesive design
     methodology and compares numerical simulation adhesion results
     with macroscale adhesion data from polymer microfiber array
     experiments. A technique for fabricating microfibers with a
     controlled angle is described for the first time. Polyurethane
     microfibers with different hardnesses, angles, and aspect ratios
     are fabricated using optical lithography and polymer micromolding
     techniques and tested with a custom tensile adhesion measurement
     setup. Macroscale adhesion and overall work of adhesion of the
     microfiber arrays are measured and compared with the models to
     observe the effect of fiber geometry and preload. The adhesion
     strength and work of adhesion behavior of short and long vertical
     and long angled fiber arrays have similar trends with the
     numerical simulations. A scheme is also proposed to aid in
     optimized fiber adhesive design.},
  url = {http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~claytronics/papers/aksak-langmuir2007.pdf}
}

@inproceedings{Christensen-iros07,
  author = {Christensen, David Johan and Campbell, Jason D.},
  title = {From Roles to Anatomy to Scalable Modular
     Self-Reconfigurable Robots},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on
     Intelligent Robots and Systems {IROS '07}},
  keywords = {Biologically Inspired, Actuation, Controlling
     Ensembles},
  year = {2007}
}

@inproceedings{Christensen-icra07,
  author = {Christensen, David Johan and Campbell, Jason D.},
  title = {Locomotion of Miniature Catom Chains: Scale Effects on Gait
     and Velocity},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on
     Robotics and Automation ({ICRA '07})},
  month = {April},
  keywords = {Biologically Inspired, Actuation, Controlling
     Ensembles},
  year = {2007}
}