@article {2481, title = {Convergence Analysis of Distributed Set-Valued Information Systems}, journal = {IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control}, volume = {61}, year = {2016}, month = {06/2016}, pages = {1477 - 1491}, abstract = {
This paper focuses on the convergence of information in distributed systems of agents communicating over a network.
The information on which the convergence is sought is not represented by real numbers, as often in the literature, rather by sets. The dynamics of the evolution of information across the network is accordingly described by set-valued iterative maps. While the study of convergence of set-valued iterative maps is highly complex in general, this paper focuses on Boolean maps, which are comprised of arbitrary combinations of unions, intersections, and complements of sets. For these important class of systems, we provide tools to study both global and local convergence. A distributed geographic information system, leading to successful information reconstruction from partial and corrupted data, is used to illustrate the applications of the proposed methods.
}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, doi = {10.1109/TAC.2015.2480176}, url = {http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=\&arnumber=7272075}, author = {A. Fagiolini and N. Dubbini and S. Martini and A. Bicchi} } @conference {1702, title = {Distributed Multi{\textendash}level Motion Planning for Autonomous Vehicles in Large Scale Industrial Environments}, booktitle = {IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies \& Factory Automation (ETFA)}, year = {2013}, month = {09/2013}, pages = {1-8}, abstract = {

In this paper we propose a distributed coordination algorithm for safe and efficient traffic management of heterogeneous robotic agents, moving within dynamic large scale industrial environments. The algorithm consists of a distributed resource{\textendash}sharing protocol involving a re{\textendash}planning strategy. Once every agent is assigned with a desired motion path, the algorithm ensures ordered traffic flows of agents, that avoid inter{\textendash}robot collision and system deadlock (stalls). The algorithm allows multi{\textendash}level representation of the environment, i.e. large or complex rooms may be seen as a unique resource with given capacity at convenience, which makes the approach appealing for complex industrial environments. Under a suitable condition on the maximum number of agents with respect to the capacity of the environment, we prove that the algorithm correctly allows mutual access to shared resources while avoiding deadlocks. The proposed solution requires no centralized mechanism, no shared memory or ground infrastructure support. Only a local inter{\textendash}robot communication is required, i.e. every agent must communicate with a limited number of other spatially adjacent robots. We finally show the effectiveness of the proposed approach by simulations, with application to an industrial scenario.

}, keywords = {Robotics}, doi = {10.1109/ETFA.2013.6647973 }, author = {L. Cancemi and A. Fagiolini and L. Pallottino} } @article {1563, title = {On the Robust Synthesis of Logical Consensus Algorithms for Distributed Intrusion Detection}, journal = {Automatica}, volume = {49}, year = {2013}, pages = {2339 - 2350}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, doi = {10.1016/j.automatica.2013.04.033}, author = {A. Fagiolini and A. Bicchi} } @conference {MFB11, title = {Behavior classification, security, and consensus in societies of robots}, booktitle = {Automatica.it 2011}, year = {2011}, note = {

poster presentation

}, month = {September, 7 - 9}, address = {Pisa, Italy}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, author = {S. Martini and A. Fagiolini and A. Bicchi} } @conference {MFP11, title = {Decentralized Coordination System for Multiple AGVs in a Structured Environment}, booktitle = {2011 Congress of the International Federation of Automatic Control}, year = {2011}, month = {Aug 28 - Sept 1}, pages = {6005 - 6010}, address = {Milano, italy}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, author = {S. Manca and A. Fagiolini and L. Pallottino} } @conference {MFZB11, title = {Decentralized Species Classification in Societies of Autonomous and Heterogenous Robots}, booktitle = {2011 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation}, year = {2011}, month = {May 9 - 13}, pages = {32 - 39}, address = {Shangai, China}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, author = {S. Martini and A. Fagiolini and G. Zichittella and M. Egerstedt and A. Bicchi} } @conference {MDBGB11, title = {Robust Network Agreement on Logical Information}, booktitle = {2011 Congress of the International Federation of Automatic Control - IFAC 2011}, year = {2011}, month = {August 28 - Sept}, pages = {13905 - 13911}, address = {Milano, italy}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, author = {S. Martini and D. Di Baccio and A. Fagiolini and A. Bicchi} } @conference {FBCABB-ICRA10, title = {Design and Control of a Novel 3D Casting Manipulator}, booktitle = {IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA2010)}, year = {2010}, month = {May 3 - 8}, pages = {4169 - 4174}, address = {Anchorage, Alaska}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, author = {A. Fagiolini and F. A. W. Belo and M. G. Catalano and S. Alicino and F. Bonomo and A. Bicchi} } @conference {FMDBB10, title = {A Self-Routing Protocol for Distributed Consensus on Logical Information}, booktitle = {IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems}, year = {2010}, month = {October, 18 - 22}, pages = {5151 - 5156}, address = {Taipei, Taiwan}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, author = {A. Fagiolini and S. Martini and D. Di Baccio and A. Bicchi} } @article {BFP10, title = {Towards a Society of Robots: Behaviors, Misbehaviors, and Security}, journal = {IEEE Robotics and Automation Magazine}, volume = {17}, number = {4}, year = {2010}, month = {December}, pages = {26 - 36}, keywords = {Robotics}, author = {A. Bicchi and A. Fagiolini and L. Pallottino} } @conference {FMDB-NecSys09, title = {Distributed Consensus on Boolean Information}, booktitle = {1st IFAC Workshop on Estimation and Control of Networked Systems (NecSys{\textquoteright}09)}, year = {2009}, month = {September, 24 - }, pages = {72 - 77}, address = {Venice, Italy}, abstract = {

In this paper we study the convergence towards consensus on information in a distributed system of agents communicating over a network. The particularity of this study is that the information on which the consensus is seeked is not represented by real numbers, rather by logical values or compact sets. Whereas the problems of allowing a network of agents to reach a consensus on logical functions of input events, and that of agreeing on set-valued information, have been separately addressed in previous work, in this paper we show that these problems can indeed be attacked in a unified way in the framework of Boolean distributed information systems. Based on a notion of contractivity for Boolean dynamical systems, a necessary and suficient condition ensuring the global convergence toward a unique equilibrium point is presented. This result can be seen as a first step toward the de nition of a unified framework to uniformly address all consensus problems on Boolean algebras.

}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, author = {A. Fagiolini and S. Martini and N. Dubbini and A. Bicchi} } @conference {FBB-ICRA09, title = {Dynamic Distributed Intrusion Detection for Secure Multi-Robot Systems}, booktitle = {Int. Conference of Robotics and Automation}, year = {2009}, month = {May, 12 - 17}, pages = {2723 - 2728}, address = {Kobe, Japan}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, author = {A. Fagiolini and F. Babboni and A. Bicchi} } @conference {ACBBGSFB-IROS09, title = {A Rough-Terrain, Casting Robot for the ESA Lunar Robotics Challenge}, booktitle = {Proc. IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent RObots and Systems}, year = {2009}, month = {October, 11 - 15}, pages = {3336-3342}, address = {St. Louis MO USA}, abstract = {

This paper describes the design and implementation of DAVID, a lunar vehicle developed for the European Space Agency (ESA) Lunar Robotics Challenge, presenting severe terrain negotiation and sample acquisition challenges. We discuss in some detail two of the main innovative aspects of our entry to the challenge, i.e. the locomotion system and the sample acquisition system. Motivated by the challenge specifications, a range of different locomotion systems were considered, among which we chose a simple, rugged and effective wheeled system. We provide an account of the choice of five different types of wheels, which were designed, analyzed and experimentally tested in conditions similar to the challenge. The system eventually turned out to be very effective in negotiating 89\% slopes of volcanic terrain on the challenge site, Mount Teide in Tenerife. To reduce the distance to be traveled on the difficult terrain and avoid risks in reaching the lowest parts of a crater, the vehicle was endowed with an innovative sample acquisition system, i.e. a casting manipulator. Casting manipulation is a technique in which the end-effector is thrown, the sample material is acquired, and the end-effector is retrieved using a light tether that acts as a

}, keywords = {Robotics}, author = {S. Alicino and M. G. Catalano and F. Bonomo and F. A. W. Belo and G. Grioli and R. Schiavi and A. Fagiolini and A. Bicchi} } @conference {FMDB-NESTER09, title = {Safety and Security in Networked Robotics Systems via Logical Consensus}, booktitle = {International Workshop on Networked embedded and control system technologies: European and Russian R\&D cooperation (NESTER{\textquoteright}09)}, year = {2009}, month = {July, 2 - 5}, address = {Milan, Italy}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, author = {S. Martini and A. Fagiolini and G. Dini and A. Bicchi} } @conference {FMB-CASE09, title = {Set-Valued Consensus for Distributed Clock Synchronization}, booktitle = {Proc. IEEE Conference on Automation Science and Engineering}, year = {2009}, month = {August, 22-25}, pages = {116 - 121}, address = {Bangalore}, abstract = {

This paper addresses the clock synchronization problem in a wireless sensor network (WSN) and proposes a distributed solution that consists of a form of consensus, where agents are able to exchange data representing intervals or sets. The solution is based on a centralized algorithm for clock synchronization, proposed by Marzullo, that determines the smallest interval that is in common with the maximum number of measured interval. We first show how to convert such an algorithm into a problem involving only operations on sets, and then we convert it into a set

}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, author = {A. Fagiolini and S. Martini and A. Bicchi} } @conference {FPVDB08, title = {Consensus-based Distributed Intrusion Detection for Multi-Robot Systems}, booktitle = {Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. on Robotics and Automation}, year = {2008}, pages = {120 - 127}, abstract = {

This paper addresses a security problem in robotic multi-agent systems, where agents are supposed to cooperate according to a shared protocol. A distributed Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is proposed here, that detects possible non- cooperative agents. Previous work by the authors showed how single monitors embedded on-board the agents can detect non- cooperative behavior, using only locally available information. In this paper, we allow such monitors to share the collected information in order to overcome their sensing limitation. In this perspective, we show how an agreement on the type of behavior of a target-robot may be reached by the monitors, through execution of a suitable consensus algorithm. After formulating a consensus problem over non-scalar quantities, and with a generic update function, we provide conditions for the consensus convergence and an upper bound to its transient duration. Effectiveness of the proposed solution is finally shown through simulation of a case study.

}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, author = {A. Fagiolini and M. Pellinacci and M. Valenti and G. Dini and A. Bicchi} } @conference {FTBD08, title = {Decentralized Deployment of Mobile Sensors for Optimal Connected Sensing Coverage}, booktitle = {Distributed Computing in Sensor Systems}, series = {Lecture Notes in Computer Science}, volume = {5067/2008}, year = {2008}, pages = {486 - 491}, publisher = {Springer Berlin / Heidelberg}, organization = {Springer Berlin / Heidelberg}, abstract = {

In this paper, we address the optimal connected sensing coverage problem, i.e., how mobile sensors with limited sensing capabilities can cooperatively adjust their locations so as to maximize the extension of the covered area while avoiding any internal "holes", areas that are not covered by any sensor. Our solution consists in a distributed motion algorithm that is based on an original extension of the Voronoi tessellation.

}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-69170-9_34}, author = {A. Fagiolini and L. Tani and A. Bicchi and G. Dini} } @conference {FBZ08, title = {Generalized Fibonacci Dynamical Systems}, booktitle = {Int. Conf. On Fibonacci Numbers and their applications}, year = {2008}, keywords = {Robotics}, author = {A. Balestrino and A. Fagiolini and G. Zini} } @conference {FVB-CDC08Ext, title = {Logical Consensus for Distributed Network Agreement}, booktitle = {Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. on Decision and Control}, year = {2008}, note = {

Extended Version

}, pages = {5250 - 5255}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, author = {A. Fagiolini and E.M. Visibelli and A. Bicchi} } @conference {BFDS08, title = {Tolerating Malicious Monitors in Detecting Misbehaving Robots}, booktitle = {IEEE International Workshop on Safety, Security, and Rescue Robotics}, year = {2008}, pages = {108 - 114}, address = {Tohoku University Aobayama Campus, Sendai, Japan}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, author = {A. Fagiolini and A. Bicchi and G. Dini and I. M. Savino} } @conference {FVPDB:CDC07, title = {Decentralized Intrusion Detection for Secure Cooperative Multi-Agent Systems}, booktitle = {Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. on Decision and Control}, year = {2007}, pages = {1553-1558}, abstract = {

In this paper we address the problem of detecting faulty behaviors of cooperative mobile agents. A novel decentralized and scalable architecture that can be adopted to realize a monitor of the agents

}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, author = {A. Fagiolini and G. Valenti and L. Pallottino and G. Dini and A. Bicchi} } @booklet {FPD{\textquoteright}07, title = {Decentralized Intrusion Detection in Cooperative Multi-Agent Systems}, year = {2007}, note = {

Poster Presentation

}, month = {April}, abstract = {

We address the problem of detecting faulty behaviors of robots belonging to a multi-agent system. Our objective is to develop a scalable architecture that can be adopted to realize a completely decentralized intrusion detector monitoring the agents{\textquoteright} behavior. We want the solution to be independent from the set of {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}rules{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} describing the interaction among the agents, and from their dynamics; (non-invasive) mainly based on HW/SW components that are already present on-board of each agent. We focus on systems with decentralized cooperation schemes where cooperation is obtained by sharing a set of {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}rules{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} by which each agent plans its next {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}action{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} and where some of the agents may act not according to the rules due to spontaneous failure, tampering, or malicious introduction.

}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, author = {A. Fagiolini and L. Pallottino and G. Dini} } @conference {FVPDB:CASE07, title = {Local Monitor Implementation for Decentralized Intrusion Detection in Secure Multi-Agent Systems}, booktitle = {3rd IEEE Conference on Automation Science and Engineering}, year = {2007}, pages = {454{\textendash}459}, abstract = {

This paper focuses on the detection of misbehaving agents within a group of mobile robots. A novel approach to automatically synthesize a decentralized Intrusion Detection System (IDS) as well as an efficient implementation of local monitors are presented. In our scenario, agents perform possibly different independent tasks, but cooperate to guarantee the entire system

}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, author = {A. Fagiolini and G. Valenti and L. Pallottino and G. Dini and A. Bicchi} } @conference {GFBP-07, title = {Steering Dynamical Systems with Finite Plans and Limited Path Length}, booktitle = {European Control Conference}, year = {2007}, pages = {4686-4690}, abstract = {

Complex dynamical systems can be steered by using symbolic input plans. These plans must have a finite descriptive length, and can be expressed by means of words chosen in an alphabet of symbols. In this way, such plans can be sent through a limited capacity channel to a remote system, where they are decoded in suitable control actions. The choice of this symbols is essential to efficiently encode steering plans. To this aim, in this paper, we state the problem of finding symbols maximizing the interval of points reachable by the system along paths with constrained length. We focus on the problem with two symbols, and compare the results with those produced by plans not accounting for the length constraint. Moreover, the behavior of a simple helicopter, steered by both kinds of plans, has been simulated, in order to illustrate the power of the overall control system, and to emphasize the improvements introduced by the new plans.

}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, author = {L. Greco and A. Fagiolini and A. Bicchi and B. Piccoli} } @conference {FTB06, title = {Casting Robotic end-effectors to reach far objects in space and planetary missions}, booktitle = {Proc. of the 9th ESA Workshop on Advanced Space Technologies for Robotics and Automation}, year = {2006}, pages = {28-30}, keywords = {Robotics}, author = {A. Fagiolini and A. Torelli and A. Bicchi} } @conference {DFPSSDB06, title = {A scalable platform for safe and secure decentralized traffic management of multiagent mobile systems}, booktitle = {ACM Workshop on Real-World Wireless Sensor Networks}, year = {2006}, abstract = {

In this paper we describe the application of wireless sensor networking techniques to address the realization of a safe and secure decentralized traffic management system. We consider systems of many heterogeneous autonomous vehicles moving in a shared environment. Each vehicle is assumed to have different and possibly unspecified tasks, but they cooperate to avoid collisions. We are interested in designing a scalable architecture capable of accommodating a very large and dynamically changing number of vehicles, guaranteeing their safety (i.e., collision avoidance), the achievement of their goals, and security against potential adversaries. By properly distributing and revoking cryptographic keys we are able to protect communications from an external adversary as well as to detect non-cooperative, possibly malicious vehicles and trigger suitable countermeasures. In our architecture, scalability is obtained by decentralization, i.e. each vehicle is regarded as an autonomous agent capable of processing information concerning its own state and the state of only a fixed, small number of {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}neighboring{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright} agents. Ad-hoc wireless sensor networks are employed to provide support for this architecture.

}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, author = {A. Danesi and A. Fagiolini and I. Savino and L. Pallottino and R. Schiavi and G. Dini and A. Bicchi} } @conference {FGBPM06, title = {Symbolic Control for Underactuated Differentially Flat Systems}, booktitle = {Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. on Robotics and Automation}, year = {2006}, pages = {1649-1654}, abstract = {

In this paper we address the problem of generating input plans to steer complex dynamical systems in an obstacle-free environment. Plans considered admit a finite description length and are constructed by words on an alphabet of input symbols, which could be e.g. transmitted through a limited capacity channel to a remote system, where they can be decoded in suitable control actions. We show that, by suitable choice of the control encoding, finite plans can be efficiently built for a wide class of dynamical systems, computing arbitrarily close approximations of a desired equilibrium in polynomial time. Moreover, we illustrate by simulations the power of the proposed method, solving the steering problem for two examples in the class of underactuated systems, which have attracted wide attention in the recent literature.

}, keywords = {Embedded Control, Robotics}, author = {A. Fagiolini and L. Greco and A. Bicchi and B. Piccoli and A. Marigo} } @conference {FAB05, title = {Visual-based Feedback Control of Casting Manipulation}, booktitle = {Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. on Robotics and Automation}, year = {2005}, note = {

(ICRA05 B. Wegbreit Award for Best Manipulation Paper)

}, pages = {2203-2208}, abstract = {

In this paper, we present a method to control casting manipulation by means of real-time visual feedback. Casting manipulation is a technique to deploy a robotic end-effector at large distances from the robot{\textquoteright}s base, by throwing the end-effector and controlling its ballistic flight using forces transmitted through a light tether connected to the end-effector itself. The tether cable can also be used to retrieve the end-effector and exert forces on the robot{\textquoteright}s environment. Previous work has shown that casting manipulation is able to catch objects at a large distance, proving it viable for applications such as sample acquisition and return, rescue, etc. In previous experiments, the position of the target object was known exactly. In this paper, we present a first attempt at closing a real-time control loop on casting manipulation using visual feedback of moving targets. As accurate planning methods developed for off-line open-loop planning cannot be used in real-time, we develop a simplified model and control algorithm, whose effectiveness is demonstrated through experiments.

}, keywords = {Robotics}, author = {A. Fagiolini and H. Arisumi and A. Bicchi} }