Patent ID: 9446512
Filing Date: 2016-09-20
CPC Classification: B25J,G05B,G05D,G06N

Claim Text:
1. A method of operating a plurality of robots to perform foraging for a resource, comprising the steps of: programming each robot to know where the nest is and with an inherent leash; a. each robot is programmed to conduct a uniformed search by traveling to a random first location along a substantially straight path; b. upon reaching said first location, each of said robots performing a uniformed correlated random walk for a first predetermined time period set by each robot independently of each other for random length of times; c. if during said first predetermined time period no resource is found, said robot returns to the nest; d. upon returning to the nest, each robot repeats steps a-c until a resource is found by at least one robot; e. upon finding a resource, the robot finding the resource collects one or more resources, independently assigns a resource grade to the location, returns to the nest and depending on the resource grade 1) repeats steps a-c, 2) returns to the location without sharing the information with other robots, or 3) transmits a resource found signal informing the other robots of the resource location, said signal based on said resource grade; and f. upon receiving a resource found signal, depending on the grade of the signal, the robot receiving the signal 1) repeats steps a-c, or 2) travels to the location and performs step e if a resource is found and if a resource is not found, performs an informed correlated random walk.