OpenKilo: A Truly Open-Source Kilobot Design Revision that Aids Repair and Extensibility

James Trump; Russell Andrew Joyce; Alan Gregory Millard

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-63486-5_36

OpenKilo: A Truly Open-Source Kilobot Design Revision that Aids Repair and Extensibility

James Trump, Russell Andrew Joyce, Alan Gregory Millard^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Computer Science

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

Physical robot platforms are an important tool in swarm robotics research, allowing algorithms to be validated and optimised under realistic conditions. The Kilobot is a widely used platform that was originally designed to be cheap and simple enough for research labs to produce themselves. However, existing designs are neither truly open-source nor amenable to repair. We present a revised Kilobot hardware design that specifically aids repair via hand-soldering while remaining compatible with previous designs. Our design was produced using open-source ECAD (Electronic Computer-Aided Design) software, and is freely available online. We hope that the editable schematic and printed circuit board (PCB) design will be of use to future Kilobot projects, and will contribute to the accessibility of swarm robotics in general.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Towards Autonomous Robotic Systems
Subtitle of host publication	21st Annual Conference, TAROS 2020, Nottingham, UK, September 16, 2020, Proceedings
Publisher	Springer
Pages	345-356
Number of pages	12
ISBN (Electronic)	9783030634865
ISBN (Print)	9783030634858
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63486-5_36
Publication status	Published - 3 Dec 2020
Event	21st Towards Autonomous Robotic Systems Conference - Nottingham Duration: 16 Sept 2020 → 16 Sept 2020

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS),
Publisher	Springer
Volume	12228
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Conference

Conference	21st Towards Autonomous Robotic Systems Conference
Abbreviated title	TAROS
City	Nottingham
Period	16/09/20 → 16/09/20

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-030-63486-5_36

Cite this

Trump, J., Joyce, R. A., & Millard, A. G. (2020). OpenKilo: A Truly Open-Source Kilobot Design Revision that Aids Repair and Extensibility. In Towards Autonomous Robotic Systems: 21st Annual Conference, TAROS 2020, Nottingham, UK, September 16, 2020, Proceedings (pp. 345-356). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS),; Vol. 12228). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63486-5_36

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title = "OpenKilo: A Truly Open-Source Kilobot Design Revision that Aids Repair and Extensibility",

abstract = "Physical robot platforms are an important tool in swarm robotics research, allowing algorithms to be validated and optimised under realistic conditions. The Kilobot is a widely used platform that was originally designed to be cheap and simple enough for research labs to produce themselves. However, existing designs are neither truly open-source nor amenable to repair. We present a revised Kilobot hardware design that specifically aids repair via hand-soldering while remaining compatible with previous designs. Our design was produced using open-source ECAD (Electronic Computer-Aided Design) software, and is freely available online. We hope that the editable schematic and printed circuit board (PCB) design will be of use to future Kilobot projects, and will contribute to the accessibility of swarm robotics in general.",

author = "James Trump and Joyce, {Russell Andrew} and Millard, {Alan Gregory}",

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Trump, J, Joyce, RA & Millard, AG 2020, OpenKilo: A Truly Open-Source Kilobot Design Revision that Aids Repair and Extensibility. in Towards Autonomous Robotic Systems: 21st Annual Conference, TAROS 2020, Nottingham, UK, September 16, 2020, Proceedings. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS), vol. 12228, Springer, pp. 345-356, 21st Towards Autonomous Robotic Systems Conference, Nottingham, 16/09/20. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63486-5_36

OpenKilo: A Truly Open-Source Kilobot Design Revision that Aids Repair and Extensibility. / Trump, James; Joyce, Russell Andrew ; Millard, Alan Gregory.
Towards Autonomous Robotic Systems: 21st Annual Conference, TAROS 2020, Nottingham, UK, September 16, 2020, Proceedings. Springer, 2020. p. 345-356 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS),; Vol. 12228).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

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N2 - Physical robot platforms are an important tool in swarm robotics research, allowing algorithms to be validated and optimised under realistic conditions. The Kilobot is a widely used platform that was originally designed to be cheap and simple enough for research labs to produce themselves. However, existing designs are neither truly open-source nor amenable to repair. We present a revised Kilobot hardware design that specifically aids repair via hand-soldering while remaining compatible with previous designs. Our design was produced using open-source ECAD (Electronic Computer-Aided Design) software, and is freely available online. We hope that the editable schematic and printed circuit board (PCB) design will be of use to future Kilobot projects, and will contribute to the accessibility of swarm robotics in general.

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