Nano-wireless communications for microrobotics: an algorithm to connect networks of microrobots

Micro and nanorobotics represents one of the most challenging sectors of modern robotics. Through batch fabrication of Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), advanced small scale sensing and actuating tasks in a wide area of applications can be performed. Most miniaturized electro-mechanical devices are characterized by low-power and low-memory capacity. The huge number of modular robots introduces the need to explore novel self-reconfiguration algorithms to optimize movement and communication performances in terms of efficiency, parallelism and scalability. Nano-transceivers and nano-antennas operating in the Terahertz Band are already a well acquainted communication paradigm, enforcing nano-wireless networking that can be directly integrated in MEMS microrobots. Several logical topology shape-shifting algorithms are already implemented and tested in literature, along with performance evaluation on nano-wireless use. This article aims to provide an algorithm to reconnect groups of microrobots, along with a novel movement model for microrobotics ensembles introduced to enforce more realistic simulations. Special emphasis is given on the need of novel movement algorithms for swarms of microrobots.