Swarm Robotics and Bio-hybrid Systems: Time, Minimizing Surprise, and Plants as Sensors

Swarm Robotics and Bio-hybrid Systems: Time, Minimizing Surprise, and Plants as Sensors

Abstract: A key future aspect of swarm robotics (decentralized large-scale multi-robot systems) is human-swarm Interaction. We look into the very specific effect of robot swarms on the operator's subjective time perception. In another part, we look into the state of the art of Active Inference (predictive modeling to guide decisions and perception actively) for collective behavior by answering the question: How can swarm members choose actions that minimize future surprise? In the part on bio-hybrid systems (fusion of living and technological elements), we investigate whether natural plants can be used as sensor networks to monitor air pollution in cities.