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Publications

Publications by Diogo Miguel Matos

2021

Multi AGV Coordination Tolerant to Communication Failures

Authors
Matos, D; Costa, P; Lima, J; Costa, P;

Publication
ROBOTICS

Abstract
Most path planning algorithms used presently in multi-robot systems are based on offline planning. The Timed Enhanced A* (TEA*) algorithm gives the possibility of planning in real time, rather than planning in advance, by using a temporal estimation of the robot's positions at any given time. In this article, the implementation of a control system for multi-robot applications that operate in environments where communication faults can occur and where entire sections of the environment may not have any connection to the communication network will be presented. This system uses the TEA* to plan multiple robot paths and a supervision system to control communications. The supervision system supervises the communication with the robots and checks whether the robot's movements are synchronized. The implemented system allowed the creation and execution of paths for the robots that were both safe and kept the temporal efficiency of the TEA* algorithm. Using the Simtwo2020 simulation software, capable of simulating movement dynamics and the Lazarus development environment, it was possible to simulate the execution of several different missions by the implemented system and analyze their results.

2021

Multiple Mobile Robots Scheduling Based on Simulated Annealing Algorithm

Authors
Matos, D; Costa, P; Lima, J; Valente, A;

Publication
Optimization, Learning Algorithms and Applications - First International Conference, OL2A 2021, Bragança, Portugal, July 19-21, 2021, Revised Selected Papers

Abstract
Task Scheduling assumes an integral topic in the efficiency of multiple mobile robots systems and is a key part in most modern manufacturing systems. Advances in the field of combinatorial optimisation have allowed the implementation of algorithms capable of solving the different variants of the vehicle routing problem in relation to different objectives. However few of this approaches are capable of taking into account the nuances associated with the coordinated path planning in multi-AGV systems. This paper presents a new study about the implementation of the Simulated Annealing algorithm to minimise the time and distance cost of executing a tasks set while taking into account possible pathing conflicts that may occur during the execution of the referred tasks. This implementation uses an estimation of the planned paths for the robots, provided by the Time Enhanced A* (TEA*) to determine where possible pathing conflicts occur and uses the Simulated Annealing algorithm to optimise the attribution of tasks to each robot, in order to minimise the pathing conflicts. Results are presented that validate the efficiency of this algorithm and compare it to an approach that does not take into account the estimation of the robots paths.

2021

Multi AGV Industrial Supervisory System

Authors
Cruz A.; Matos D.; Lima J.; Costa P.; Costa P.;

Publication
Communications in Computer and Information Science

Abstract
Automated guided vehicles (AGV) represent a key element in industries’ intralogistics and the use of AGV fleets bring multiple advantages. Nevertheless, coordinating a fleet of AGV is already a complex task but when exposed to delays in the trajectory and communication faults it can represent a threat, compromising the safety, productivity and efficiency of these systems. Concerning this matter, trajectory planning algorithms allied with supervisory systems have been studied and developed. This article aims to, based on work developed previously, implement and test a Multi AGV Supervisory System on real robots and analyse how the system responds to the dynamic of a real environment, analysing its intervention, what influences it and how the execution time is affected.

2024

AGVs vs AMRs: A Comparative Study of Fleet Performance and Flexibility

Authors
Silva, RT; Brilhante, M; Sobreira, H; Matos, D; Costa, P;

Publication
2024 7TH IBERIAN ROBOTICS CONFERENCE, ROBOT 2024

Abstract
Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) have emerged as key innovations in the industry world, with AMRs offering flexibility a nd adaptability for dynamic environments, while AGVs provide high accuracy for repetitive tasks; thus, this research proposes a study of fleets of both AGVs and AMRs to enhance productivity and efficiency in industrial settings. Several tests were performed where the duration of a mission, the success and collision rate, and the average number of disputes per mission were analyzed in order to obtain results. In conclusion, while AGVs tend to be more reliable and consistent in task completion, AMRs offer greater flexibility a nd speed.

2025

Efficient multi-robot path planning in real environments: a centralized coordination system

Authors
Matos, DM; Costa, P; Sobreira, H; Valente, A; Lima, J;

Publication
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTELLIGENT ROBOTICS AND APPLICATIONS

Abstract
With the increasing adoption of mobile robots for transporting components across several locations in industries, congestion problems appear if the movement of these robots is not correctly planned. This paper introduces a fleet management system where a central agent coordinates, plans, and supervises the fleet, mitigating the risk of deadlocks and addressing issues related to delays, deviations between the planned paths and reality, and delays in communication. The system uses the TEA* graph-based path planning algorithm to plan the paths of each agent. In conjunction with the TEA* algorithm, the concepts of supervision and graph-based environment representation are introduced. The system is based on ROS framework and allows each robot to maintain its autonomy, particularly in control and localization, while aligning its path with the plan from the central agent. The effectiveness of the proposed fleet manager is demonstrated in a real scenario where robots operate on a shop floor, showing its successful implementation.

2023

Multi-robot Coordination for a Heterogeneous Fleet of Robots

Authors
Pereira, D; Matos, D; Rebelo, P; Ribeiro, F; Costa, P; Lima, J;

Publication
ROBOT2022: FIFTH IBERIAN ROBOTICS CONFERENCE: ADVANCES IN ROBOTICS, VOL 2

Abstract
There is an increasing need for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in industrial environments. The capability of autonomous movement and transportation of items in industrial environments provides a significant increase in productivity and efficiency. This need, coupled with the possibility of controlling groups of heterogeneous robots, simultaneously addresses a wide range of tasks with different characteristics in the same environment, further increasing productivity and efficiency. This paper will present an implementation of a system capable of coordinating a fleet of heterogeneous robots with robustness. The implemented system must be able to plan a safe and efficient path for these different robots. To achieve this task, the TEA* (Time Enhanced A*) graph search algorithm will be used to coordinate the paths of the robots, along with a graph decomposition module that will be used to improve the efficiency and safety of this system. The project was implemented using the ROS framework and the Stage simulator. Results validate the proposed approach since the system was able to coordinate a fleet of robots in various different tests efficiently and safely, given the heterogeneity of the robots.

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