Implementing swarm democracy to robot logic

Abstract

The goal of this research is to study the possibilities given by a swarm self-organization in a concrete use-case: A swarm of exploration robot had been given the task to research the area to find the best-of-n spot to build a solar electricity generator (or any other kind of building). Each robot will search in the area and acquire knowledges about the potentials spots. The selection of the best place will then require a complex reflexion work among the findings....The principle of Swarm Intelligence is to use a decentralized architecture, as it brings many advantages (as scalability). With this system, it is necessary that all the swarm agree on a decision taken. Otherwise, the group will fail to move as one. The need of new decision model rises. Literature showed a notable potential for nature-inspired algorithms in the area. Flock of birds, shoal of fish or swarm of bees are famous examples. This thesis will focus on how to implement a social voting system in a swarm of robots. The goal is to compare the efficiency of a democratic system, inspired by bees, to a standard, centralized, model(formally despotic system).