Emergence of Consensus in a Multi-Robot Network: From Abstract Models to Empirical Validation

Consensus dynamics in decentralised multiagent systems are subject to intense studies, and several different models have been proposed and analyzed. Among these, the naming game stands out for its simplicity and applicability to a wide range of phenomena and applications, from semiotics to engineering. Despite the wide range of studies available, the implementation of theoretical models in real distributed systems is not always straightforward, as the physical platform imposes several constraints that may have a bearing on the consensus dynamics. In this letter, we investigate the effects of an implementation of the naming game for the kilobot robotic platform, in which we consider concurrent execution of games and physical interferences. Consensus dynamics are analyzed in the light of the continuously evolving communication network created by the robots, highlighting how the different regimes crucially depend on the robot density and on their ability to spread widely in the experimental arena. We find that physical interferences reduce the benefits resulting from robot mobility in terms of consensus time, but also result in lower cognitive load for individual agents.

Publication type: 
Articolo
Author or Creator: 
Trianni
V.
De Simone
D.
Reina
A.
Baronchelli
Publisher: 
IEEE
Source: 
IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters 1 (2016): 348–353. doi:10.1109/LRA.2016.2519537
info:cnr-pdr/source/autori:Trianni, V. and De Simone, D. and Reina, A. and Baronchelli, A./titolo:Emergence of Consensus in a Multi-Robot Network: From Abstract Models to Empirical Validation/doi:10.1109/LRA.2016.2519537/rivista:IEEE Robotics and Automati
Date: 
2016
Resource Identifier: 
http://www.cnr.it/prodotto/i/348032
https://dx.doi.org/10.1109/LRA.2016.2519537
info:doi:10.1109/LRA.2016.2519537
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=7386604
Language: 
Eng
ISTC Author: 
Vito Trianni's picture
Real name: