AUTHOR=Kegeleirs Miquel , Birattari Mauro 

TITLE=Towards applied swarm robotics: current limitations and enablers

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Robotics and AI

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/robotics-and-ai/articles/10.3389/frobt.2025.1607978

DOI=10.3389/frobt.2025.1607978

ISSN=2296-9144

ABSTRACT=Swarm robotics addresses the design, deployment, and analysis of large groups of robots that collaborate to perform tasks in a decentralized manner. Research in this field has predominantly relied on simulations or small-scale robots with limited sensing, actuation, and computational capabilities. Consequently, despite significant advancements, swarm robotics has yet to see widespread commercial or industrial application. A major barrier to practical deployment is the lack of affordable, modern, and robust platforms suitable for real-world scenarios. Moreover, a narrow definition of what swarm robotics should be has restricted the scope of potential applications. In this paper, we argue that the development of more advanced robotic platforms—incorporating state-of-the-art technologies such as SLAM, computer vision, and reliable communication systems—and the adoption of a broader interpretation of swarm robotics could significantly expand its range of applicability. This would enable robot swarms to tackle a wider variety of real-world tasks and integrate more effectively with existing systems, ultimately paving the way for successful deployment.