Contact-Driven Localization in a Freeform Robotic Self-Assembled Structure

Abstract:Accurate localization remains a key challenge in swarm robotics, particularly for self-reconfigurable systems that must identify relative positions to form diverse structures. Most existing approaches rely on external tracking infrastructure or high-cost sensors, which limit scalability and deployment in unstructured environments. In this paper, we propose a novel contact-driven localization method for modular robots that leverages only local communication through binary contact information (whether two robots are physically connected or not). To exploit these contact cues, we introduce a virtual-force framework in which robots iteratively refine their poses attracting toward dock-connected neighbors and repelling from non-connected ones. The method requires no external infrastructure and relies only on minimal onboard sensing. Simulations show effective localization during the assembly of towers and cantilevers, enabling accurate, scalable, free-form self-assembly.

Robotics (cs.RO)

arXiv:2608.02895 [cs.RO]

(or arXiv:2608.02895v1 [cs.RO] for this version)

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2608.02895 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)

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