Advancements in cooperative mobile robots control strategies for large-scale material transport: review

This paper explores groundbreaking advancements in control strategies for cooperative mobile robots used in large-scale material transport, a critical aspect of modern industrial, manufacturing, logistics, and construction sectors. It delves into the development of sophisticated systems that enable seamless coordination among multiple mobile robot systems. The research presents a novel hierarchical finite state automaton for dynamic mission adaptation and a null space-based control scheme for precise task execution and enhanced system resilience. The introduction of Mecanum wheels facilitates flexible movement and manipulation of materials, thereby increasing the operational efficiency and safety. Cutting-edge sensory technology, including LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), and the implementation of Robot Operating System are highlighted for their roles in enhancing autonomous navigation and intelligent operation. Additionally, the paper discusses the impact of centralized and decentralized control methods in ensuring safe cooperative object transport. The findings contribute to the vision of Industry 4.0 by promoting the integration of automation and robotic cooperation in complex environments and present a foundational blueprint for further research. Challenges for future work such as scalability, communication efficiency, collision avoidance, and energy efficiency are also considered, underscoring the need for ongoing development of robust and scalable robotic systems to address modern transport challenges.