Multi-robot systems have potential in applications such as 
search and rescue, autonomous exploration, sensing and 
communication infrastructure, and transportation. Specifically, 
coordinating a group of robots involves repetitive tasks of 
rendezvous, formation control, and flocking of the distributed 
robots. Multi-robot systems are finding synergies in multiple 
relevant research areas such as self-driving connected cars and 
industrial/logistic robotics. Therefore, it is important to 
understand and advance the robotics literature in the field of 
multi-robot systems and their applications, which is the main 
objective of this course.

This course will primarily be research oriented, with most 
lectures presented in a seminar-type format, and there will be 
a small simulation/hardware project assignment. First, the 
instructor will present the initial few lectures and cover 
the fundamental concepts in networked multi-robot systems. In 
turn, each student will present the analysis of a research 
paper selected from top robotics conferences or relevant 
journals. All participants will be required to write a short 
review of the assigned readings before each lecture. In 
addition, the course requires each student to formulate and 
address a relevant research problem in networked multi-robot 
systems through simulation/hardware experiments either 
individually or in teams (depending on the course enrollment). 
The analysis of the chosen research problem, proposed 
solution, and experimental evaluation should be completed and 
reported in a conference-style paper by the end of the term 
(this is the equivalent of the final exam).

Topics to be covered:
• Multi-robot Consensus and Rendezvous
• Multi-robot Formation Control 
• Multi-agent Cooperation
• Security and Adversarial Actions 
• Applications of Multi-Robot Systems