Self-organizing reconfigurable cellular robots created with semantically-aware autonomic elements

About the Project

Machines created by humans, even state-of-the-art space systems, are mostly monolithic centralized entities that are designed for a specific purpose and to embody specific components. This is in contrast to nearly all organisms in nature, which have evolved from self-contained elements (cells) and are composed of large groups of specialized cells that together perform complex operations and communicate by pre-arranged ensemble signalling. There are many advantages to the cellular element approach, including resilience to localized damage, accelerated parallel adaptation, and the ability to self-replicate with relative simplicity using the same mechanisms for all elements. This becomes all the more essential for systems that must operate in distant and challenging environments without the possibility of human intervention.

In this research project, the challenges of creating space robots and other self-sufficient cyber-physical systems with cellular characteristics are explored. The concept of a self-contained and self-managing "autonomic element" is used as the basis for creating a distributed, fractionated architecture in which large numbers of similar and interconnected components manage their own functions and operation while providing services to other elements in the system in an optimized fashion. Within such a system, autonomic elements should be self-configuring, self-optimizing, self-healing, self-protecting, and self-aware as well as being aware of the context of the system that it is within. As an open, adaptive and context-aware system, this architecture uses semantic contexts for passing information that is interpreted and reasoned on by each element as required so that new functions and data can be added without changes to unrelated elements.

An immediate application for this technology is the the Horizon Europe project "STARFAB", which started in January 2024, and building on state-of-the-art modular satellite technology aims to create a demonstrator for a "space warehouse" that will in the future robotically retrieve, store, service, and assemble spacecraft modules into functioning satellites, all in Earth's orbit without the need for one-time satellite launches or servicing and deorbiting missions. Details are at the https://www.horizon-starfab.com/ website. In this project, you will be able to build on the development of this modular space warehouse by designing and implementing semantic reconfiguration algorithms and modular hardware to be assembled into satellites and space robots, both in simulation and in our physical scaled laboratory testbed. By using reasoning systems and a novel distributed operating system platform, a complete robotic system can be constructed with enhanced capabilities that arise from the modular approach.

This project is open-ended making it suitable for MSc by Research and PhD level. For more details about this project, please contact Dr. Mark Post, email: mark.post@york.ac.uk, or Professor Andy Tyrrell, email: andy.tyrrell@york.ac.uk

How to Apply:

Applicants should apply via the University’s online application system at https://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/apply/. Please read the application guidance first so that you understand the various steps in the application process.

Funding Notes

This is a self-funded project and you will need to have sufficient funds in place (eg from scholarships, personal funds and/or other sources) to cover the tuition fees and living expenses for the duration of the research degree programme. Please check the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology website View Website for details about funding opportunities at York.