Time-switching patrolling controller for holonomic and nonholonomic multi-robot systems

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a distributed controller for holonomic and nonholonomic multi-robot systems to patrol multiple targets. Distributed control is a control method that uses only information observed by the robot itself and gathered from its surrounding without relying on centralized control. In order for the robots to accomplish their patrols, we propose an objective function that changes switching weights depending on the time when the targets are not observed. As a result, each robot determines which targets to observe based on the time weights and the information from surrounding robots to achieve efficient patrols. We design a distributed controller based on the gradient-flow method for both holonomic and nonholonomic systems. Finally, simulation and experimental results show that the proposed controller is useful for the robots to realize patrolling.