Dynamic Modeling and Centralized Formation Control of Mobile Robots

The work presents, first, a complete dynamic model of a unicycle-like mobile robot that takes part in a multi-robot formation. A linear parameterization of the model is also performed. The resulting robot model is input-output feedback linearized. On a second stage, for the multi-robot system, a model is obtained by arranging into a single equation all the feedback linearized robot models. This multi-robot model is expressed in terms of formation states by applying a coordinate transformation. The inverse dynamics technique is then applied to design a centralized formation control. The controller can be applied both to positioning and to tracking desired robot formations. Experimental results validate the theoretical aspects