Why Robots Communicate

Manuela VelosoSomchaya Liemhetcharat

Sensing, Actions, and Communication

Robots make decisions based on their sensing: without coordination, two robots could decide conflicting actions based on their sensing, e.g., vision.

Robot soccer example: if two robots see the ball, they could both decide to go to the ball. Instead, by communicating what they sense, they can coordinate their actions.

Leader-follower example: a “leader” robot senses a path and by communicating actions to the “follower” robot, both robots can move along the path together.

Robot Coordination using Communication1. Communicating sensing to coordinate roles,

i.e., to assign actions to each robot

Example video: in the CMU RoboCup Humanoid NAO team 2010, two robots communicate their distance to the ball, to decide which one is:

the Attacker, i.e., the one that scores goals, the Defender, i.e., the one that blocks goals.

1. Both robots see the ball.

2. Each robot communicates to the other its distance to the ball as seen by its own

vision.

3. The robot closest to the ball becomes the Attacker.

4. The other robot becomes the Defender.

5. The Attacker approaches the ball.

6. The Defender stays in position.

7. The Attacker gets ready to kick the ball.

8. The Defender heads to a defensive position.

Communicating Sensing for Role Coordination

Robot Coordination using Communication1. Communicating sensing to coordinate roles,

i.e., to assign actions to each robot 2. Communicating actions to coordinate roles

Example video: in the CMU RoboCup Humanoid NAO team 2010, one robot sees the ball, communicates actions to the other, and decides which one:

approaches the ball and is the Attacker, moves aside and is the Defender.

1. One robot sees the ball.

2. The robot seeing the ball communicates actions to the other and

assigns roles.

3. The robot that sees the ball is the Attacker.

4. The other robot is the Defender.

5. The Attacker heads to the ball.

6. The Defender moves aside to clear the shot to the goal.

Communicating Actions to Role Coordination

Robot Coordination using Communication1. Communicating sensing to coordinate roles,

i.e., to assign actions to each robot 2. Communicating actions to coordinate roles

Other examples:Pushing a large object with multiple robotsSearching a room for an object