On Designing Collaborative Robotic Systems with Real-Time Operating Systems and Wireless Networks

Robotic devices currently solve many real-world problems but do so primarily on an individual basis. The ability to deploy large quantities of robots to solve problems has not yet been widely embraced partially due to the complex nature of robotics and levels of research investment. Existing research in robot collaboration largely exists in the forms of models and simulations. This work seeks to accelerate the next level of research in this area by providing a low cost, collaborative capable robotic system. This platform can be used as a gateway to transport simulations into physical representations. This research not only presents a completed robot but also provides a guide for fellow researchers to use when custom tailored systems are required. Harnessing the power of robotic collaboration will inspire a new generation of problem solving and eventually produce products that could even save lives. This work demonstrates the principles and technologies needed to design robots in general and for use in collaborative environments