Towards applied swarm robotics: current limitations and enablers

Swarm robotics addresses the design, deployment, and analysis of large groups of robots that collaborate to perform tasks in a decentralized manner. Research in this field has predominantly relied on simulations or small-scale robots with limited sensing, actuation, and computational capabilities. Consequently, despite significant advancements, swarm robotics has yet to see widespread commercial or industrial application. A major barrier to practical deployment is the lack of affordable, modern, and robust platforms suitable for real-world scenarios. Moreover, a narrow definition of what swarm robotics should be has restricted the scope of potential applications. In this paper, we argue that the development of more advanced robotic platforms-incorporating state-of-the-art technologies such as SLAM, computer vision, and reliable communication systems-and the adoption of a broader interpretation of swarm robotics could significantly expand its range of applicability. This would enable robot swarms to tackle a wider variety of real-world tasks and integrate more effectively with existing systems, ultimately paving the way for successful deployment.