Reconfigurable Robot

Reconfigurable robots are robots capable of altering their physical structure to adapt to different tasks or environments, aiming to enhance versatility and efficiency. Current research emphasizes developing robust control algorithms, such as variants of RRT*, for navigating high-dimensional state spaces inherent in reconfiguration, and exploring diverse actuation mechanisms (e.g., electromagnetic, pneumatic, and passive locking) to enable modularity and shape-shifting capabilities. This field is significant for advancing robotics in diverse applications, including agriculture, construction, and environmental remediation, by enabling robots to tackle complex tasks previously limited to human intervention.