Aims of the course (objetivos del curso)
Multi-robot systems have a growing
application in a wide range of contexts, including industrial
automation, cooperative logistics and transport, cooperative monitoring
of environments or facilities, or exploration and rescue, among others.
The presence of several robots working in a coordinated way introduces a
series of important improvements. Parallel execution allows better use
of resources, reducing execution times in tasks that are inherently
distributed. The presence of several robots introduces greater
robustness to failures due to redundancy. The use of multi-robot systems
allows tasks that would not be possible with a single team member to be
carried out. On the other hand, having multi-robot systems requires
addressing the specific problems related to the assignment of tasks,
coordination between robots, communications between them, and
cooperative decision-making. The knowledge acquired in this subject is
of great importance, since it allows students to have an approach to
these type of systems, and to the fundamental tools to work with them
and to design applications in these contexts. This subject also allows
student to consolidate and get a deeper knowledge of concepts related to
perception, robotics and control.
The objective of the course is to train students in the key aspects related to multi-robot systems and their applications in different contexts. This requires approaching the discipline from different levels:
- The fundamentals related to the classification of the different types of multi-robot systems, the associated problems, and the conceptual framework and tools to work with these systems are studied.
- Techniques and algorithms that allow working with multi-robot systems are presented. The development and implementation of these algorithms requires studying and practicing techniques and programming languages.
- Different case studies and application examples of multi-robot systems are analyzed.
- Finally, the development of applications in the context of multi-robot systems is addressed.
After completing their formation, students are intended to achieve competences related to the analysis, design and programming of multi-robot systems.
These approaches and objectives are aligned with some of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDG, of the 2030 Agenda (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/es/) and certain specific goals, in such a way that the acquisition of the Learning outcomes of the subject provides training and competence to the student to contribute to a certain extent to their achievement:
- Goal 9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructures
- Target 9.4 By 2030, modernize infrastructure and reconvert industries so that they are sustainable, using resources more efficiently and promoting the adoption of clean and environmentally sound industrial technologies and processes, and ensuring that all countries take measures in accordance with their respective capabilities
- Target 9.5 Increase scientific research and improve the technological capacity of industrial sectors in all countries, particularly developing countries, including by fostering innovation and significantly increasing, by 2030, the number of people working in research and development per million inhabitants and the spending of the public and private sectors in research and development.