Hamzah Raoof, Yetkin Yildrim, and Mustafa Balcioglu
Abstract:
Swarm robotics is an emerging field within robotic systems that focuses on the coordination of multiple robots to perform collective tasks. This review paper explores the concept of physicomimetics, a physics-inspired method used in swarm robotics to control groups of robots through virtual forces. We begin by examining the foundational work of Spears et al., which introduced the concept of physicomimetics, and then explore key developments and improvements by other researchers over time, such as the creation of global lattices, the.usage of physicomimetics in non-omnidirectionally free agents, and the generalization of forming polygonal shapes with physicomimetics. Additionally, the original limitations of physicomimetics are presented alongside various solutions proposed across different studies
and applications. The fields of applications and how physicomimetics is implemented in each context are outlined. Applications in various types of autonomous vehicles—including ground, aerial, and marine robots—are also discussed. Lastly, we identified current limitations and open research questions in the continued development and practical deployment of physicomimetics within swarm robotics.