Slime Mold-Inspired Millirobots: Embodied Communication and Collective Problem Solving
How should robots utilize their embodiment to pass messages to other robots? We, as humans, have so many other ways to communicate to one another besides just speech. We can tap the shoulder of someone else to get their attention. So, what abilities can be we bring to robots?
Project description
Designing autonomous robots that collectively solve complex tasks requires innovations in both hardware and software. Inspired by the behavior of slime mold (Physarum polycephalum), which demonstrates intelligence through physical and chemical interactions, this project focuses on creating small robots capable of collaborative problem-solving. These millirobots, functioning as mass-spring oscillators, will use physical interactions to communicate, propagate information, and perform distributed computing to tackle tasks beyond the capability of individual robots.
Through this project, students will:
- Design, build, and test millirobots with mass-spring oscillator dynamics to replicate slime mold-inspired behaviors
- Develop and prototype mechanisms enabling physical interactions and communication between robots
- Evaluate the robots' collective problem-solving abilities in tasks like maze navigation and network routing.
By the end of the program, students are expected to be able to present a fully functional prototype of their millirobot and a report on their findings, including insights on robot interactions, mobility, and collective behavior. Additionally, students will prepare a presentation for a technical conference that demonstrates the robots' performance in solving complex problems collectively, reflecting an understanding of bio-inspired design principles and collective intelligence in robotics.
Project outcome
As part of this project, students will:
- Explore research in collective robotics, specifically in bio-inspired design and distributed computing for small robots
- Develop skills in multi-disciplinary research, encompassing mechanical design, control systems, and bio-inspired computing
- Receive mentorship on applying to and succeeding in graduate programs
- Communicate findings in both written and oral formats
- Gain guidance on broadening participation and accessibility in robotics research.
These experiences are designed to build foundational knowledge for future robotics researchers and contribute to the development of a diverse and skilled robotics workforce, all within the collaborative environment of the Robot Form and Function Lab.
Project details
| Length of commitment | About a semester; 3-5 months |
| Start time | Summer (May/June of 2025) |
| In-person, remote, or hybrid? | In-Person Project (Can only function with in-person engagement) |
| Level of collaboration | Small group project (2-3 students) |
| Benefits | Stipend |
| Who is eligible | All undergraduate students; preferred, but not required, that students have had experience with programming in C/C++, soldering electronics, and designing and prototyping mechanisms |
Project mentor
Ryan St. Pierre
Assistant Professor
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Phone: (716) 645-1451
Email: ryans@buffalo.edu
Start the project
- Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
- After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.)
Preparation activities
Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase.
- I ask that students review the paper of Dr. Anita Flynn titled "Gnat Robots (And How They Will Change Robotics)" (https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/41184).
- From there, I then want students to review the opportunities page on my lab (https://robotformandfunction.github.io/opportunities.html) to understand what it is like to work in a research environment.
- I also suggest looking at the research tab, though that is not all encompassing of what my lab does.
Keywords
robotics, robot, small-scale robot, embedded system, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, SEAS