Tethered Robot

Tethered robots, robots connected to a tether for power and communication, are increasingly studied for applications in diverse environments where untethered operation is difficult or impossible. Current research focuses on addressing the challenges of tether entanglement, developing efficient path planning algorithms (often employing graph search or optimization techniques) to avoid self-entanglement and collisions with obstacles, and designing robust control strategies, including data-driven and reinforcement learning approaches, for optimal deployment and manipulation. These advancements are significant for improving the safety and efficiency of tethered robot operations in various fields, such as space exploration, underwater maintenance, and disaster response.