A Geo-referenced Swarm Agents Enabling System: Theory and Demo Application

The evolution of ICT (information and communication technologies) systems capabilities will result in more increasing autonomy and mobility of ICT devices. In this scenario, cooperative multi-robot / multi-sensor systems represent a new generation of ICT systems, where mobile physical agents, equipped with sensors and/or actuators, may replace human operators in performing tasks in hazardous or risky environments. In this context the Center for TelelnFrastruktur (CTIF) Italy, with its headquarter at University of Rome "Tor Vergata", and the Italian company Space Software Italia (SSI), have realized a device that allows to mobile physical agents to perform operations within a spatial-temporal area defined by mission data. Such a device is enough small to be easily integrated within physical agents. Moreover, changing not so much software and no modifying hardware, we have implemented several functions. The system is geo-referenced since it foresees a GPS receiver assembled in the device that communicates with a microcontroller. A demo has been developed by us in order to simulate a geo-referenced swarm agents enabling system. The paper aims at showing the geo-referenced swarm agents enabling system architecture together with the development issues. The results of the experimental campaign are also presented.