Simulation of a Robotic Co-transport System

Abstract

The transportation of large loads is still an obstacle to the productivity of some companies. To answer this internal logistics challenge, one solution with high potential is the use of several mobile robots that can execute these tasks cooperatively. This paper addresses the simulation of strategies that allow two omnidirectional robots, a leader and a follower, to coordinate their movement and cooperate in a transportation task (co-transport). This is achieved by implementing a force sensor on the mechanical structure of a support that allows the follower to grab and transport the load on the top of its chassis. Through the measurement of the forces, this robot will be able to react to the movement of the leader, whose function will be to guide the system to its final destination. The system and its cooperation strategies were idealized and then tested in the CoppeliaSim simulator. The results obtained through simulation were the target of an analysis that assessed which strategy best complemented the omnidirectional mobility of the system's constituents and, at the same time, ensured that less forces were exerted on the load during transport.