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Modular reconfigurable robot (MRR) systems offer versatility but face practical application challenges. This review identifies hardware, software, and application-specific hurdles to guide future MRR development from theory to practice.

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Area of Science:

  • Robotics
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Engineering

Background:

  • Modular reconfigurable robot (MRR) systems are gaining attention for their versatility and adaptability.
  • Research has progressed from lab settings to real-world applications, yet practical implementation challenges persist.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To bridge the gap between MRR technology and specific real-world needs.
  • To provide a comprehensive review of challenges in practical MRR applications.
  • To adopt an application-oriented perspective focusing on locomotion, manipulation, and construction.

Main Methods:

  • Adopting an application-oriented perspective to analyze real-world demands.
  • Categorizing challenges into general hardware, general software, and application-specific issues.
  • Employing a demand-technology-application approach, working backward from practical needs to technical requirements.

Main Results:

  • Identified key challenges in MRR systems across hardware, software, and specific applications.
  • Highlighted technological gaps by analyzing current research against practical use cases.
  • Outlined strengths, limitations, and potential future research directions for MRR development.

Conclusions:

  • Emphasized the need for an application-oriented approach to guide MRR development.
  • Stressed the importance of addressing identified challenges for successful real-world MRR deployment.
  • Provided a roadmap for future progress by identifying critical areas for research and innovation.