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Arachne system: an accessible miniaturized mobile Multi-robot platform

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 July 2025

Ioannis Raptis Open the ORCID record for Ioannis Raptis [Opens in a new window]  and
Benjamin Sullivan
Ioannis Raptis*
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, USA
Benjamin Sullivan
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowel, MA, USA
*
Corresponding author: Ioannis Raptis; Email: iraptis@ncat.edu
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Abstract

This paper introduces the Arachne System, a scalable, cost-effective mobile microrobot swarm platform designed for educational and research applications. It details the design, functionalities, and potential of the Arachne Bots, emphasizing their accessibility to users with minimal robotics expertise. By providing a comprehensive overview of the system’s hardware, sensory capabilities, and control algorithms, the paper demonstrates the platform’s capacity to democratize and reduce entry barriers in mobile robotic swarms research, fostering innovation and educational opportunities in the field. Extensive experimental validation of the system showcases its broad range of capabilities and effectiveness in real-world implementation.

Keywords

swarm roboticsdistributed robotic systemsmicrorobotseducational robotics

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Robotica , Volume 43 , Issue 7 , July 2025 , pp. 2610 - 2643
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

*

An introductory overview video tutorial of the Arachne System is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tZHDulS5Q8. The complete source code and documentation for the Arachne System are publicly available in our open-source GitHub repository at https://github.com/UMLARSL/Arachne-Bots.

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