Emulating self-reconfigurable robots - design of the SMORES system

Abstract

Self-reconfigurable robots are capable of changing their shape to suit a task. The design of one system called SMORES (Self-assembling MOdular Robot for Extreme Shape-shifting) is introduced. This system is capable of rearranging its modules in all three classes of reconfiguration; lattice style, chain style and mobile reconfiguration. This system is capable of emulating many of the other existing systems and promises to be a step towards a universal modular robot.