OCbotics: An organic computing approach to collaborative robotic swarms

In this paper we present an approach to designing swarms of autonomous, adaptive robots. An observer/controller framework that has been developed as part of the Organic Computing initiative provides the architectural foundation for the individuals' adaptivity. Relying on an extended Learning Classifier System (XCS) in combination with adequate simulation techniques, it empowers the individuals to improve their collaborative performance and to adapt to changing goals and changing conditions. We elaborate on the conceptual details, and we provide first results addressing different aspects of our multi-layered approach. Not only for the sake of generalisability, but also because of its enormous transformative potential, we stage our research design in the domain of quad-copter swarms that organise to collaboratively fulfil spatial tasks such as maintenance of building facades. Our elaborations detail the architectural concept, provide examples of individual self-optimisation as well as of the optimisation of collaborative efforts, and we show how the user can control the swarm at multiple levels of abstraction. We conclude with a summary of our approach and an outlook on possible future steps.