Lectures in the field of maritime robotics and multi-robot systems organized for researchers and students at the MONUSEN Center
The University of Montenegro hosted two distinguished researchers, Dr. Barbara Arbanas Ferreira and Asst. Prof. Fausto Ferreira, for a two-day expert visit. The event, organized by the MONUSEN project, took place on November 16-17, 2023, at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. The primary aim of this visit was to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and experience in the fields of marine robotics and multi-robot systems, emphasizing their applications in marine environments.
Dr. Barbara Arbanas Ferreira delivered three lectures on “Distributed mission planning of multi-robot systems”, “Consensus-based environmental monitoring for underwater sensor networks,” and “Multi-robot systems for maritime security scenarios”. The first lecture was centered on effectively controlling groups of robots working together to solve complex tasks. Two main approaches were explored: one based on creating models for each robot and optimizing their behavior, and the other on planning missions and coordinating actions. The lecture highlighted various methods, such as logic-based controllers, game theory, and swarm intelligence, for guiding robot behavior. The lecture also covered in detail an example of distributed mission planning for heterogeneous MRS based on hierarchical task representation. Practical applications in automated construction and realistic simulation results were presented, demonstrating the effectiveness and efficiency of the discussed approaches. In the second lesson, participants had the opportunity to explore the application of graphs in modeling communication in underwater sensor networks and the fundamentals of consensus-based algorithms. Subsequently, examples illustrating the application of consensus-based algorithms in environmental underwater monitoring and the formation control of surface vehicles were presented. In the last lecture, Dr. Arbanas Ferreira demonstrated how a team of aerial and ground robots collaborates efficiently, showcasing their effective utilization in addressing marine security scenarios.
Prof. Fausto Ferreira delivered two informative lectures on “Multi-domain maritime robotics” and “Legal issues surrounding robot operations at sea.” In the former, he explained diverse application domains of marine robotics, showcasing how technological solutions developed by UNIZG-FER can be harnessed effectively to address a multitude of challenges in the maritime industry. In the latter lecture, prof. Ferreira emphasized the significance of regulating robot operations in maritime environments and provided insights into the current status of regulatory development. He presented proposed mechanisms for autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) collision avoidance through signaling broadcasts, underlining the importance of safety measures in underwater systems.
The two-day expert visit provided the researchers and students at the University of Montenegro with a unique opportunity to learn from experienced experts in the field of marine robotics and multi-robot systems.