In a bid to enhance the efficiency of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) used in factory operations, Korean researchers from Korea’s Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) have developed a technology which utilizes the human social principle of forgetting to enable efficient movement.
In non-technical terms, this technology lets robots forget outdated information, like a path that was once blocked but is now clear, while still sharing updates about new obstacles or blockages. This capability significantly reduces the movement time, improving efficiency and productivity.
The researchers said the collective intelligence algorithm based on a human social phenomenon could optimize the machine’s “cooperative navigation” skills. Additionally, route optimization and delay reduction could also lead to direct savings in operating costs, power consumption, and equipment maintenance.
This technology could soon be implemented in sectors such as logistics, autonomous vehicles, drone swarms, smart city traffic management, and large-scale search and rescue operations.
Tested on a Gazebo simulator, which modeled a logistics center, the results showed a clear performance upgrade compared to conventional ROS 2 navigation. Interestingly, the average driving time was reduced by up to 30.1% and task throughput increased by up to 18%.
According to the researchers, the method could cut costs by saving energy and reducing wear on equipment. It requires only 2D LiDAR sensors and is available as a plugin for ROS 2, making it easy to adopt.
