This paper presents a network-based analysis approach for the reconfiguration problem of a self-reconfigurable robot. The
self-reconfigurable modular robot named “AMOEBA-I” has nine kinds of non-isomorphic configurations that consist of a configuration
network. Each configuration of the robot is defined to be a node in the weighted and directed configuration network. The transformation
from one configuration to another is represented by a directed path with nonnegative weight. Graph theory is applied in the
reconfiguration analysis, where reconfiguration route, reconfigurable matrix and route matrix are defined according to the
topological information of these configurations. Algorithms in graph theory have been used in enumerating the available reconfiguration
routes and deciding the best reconfiguration route. Numerical analysis and experimental simulation results prove the validity
of the approach proposed in this paper. And it is potentially suitable for other self-reconfigurable robots’ configuration
control and reconfiguration planning.
Keywords self-reconfigurable robot - modular robot - reconfiguration route - network-based reconfiguration - configuration network
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 60705029), the National High-Technology (863 Program)
(Grant No. 2007AA041502-5), Advanced Manufacturing Technology R&D Base Foundation of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No.
07F1240101) and the CAS President’s Award Winner Foundation