# Episode Ten – Robot Swarms: flocking together

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2021-09-24
- Length: 28m
- Episode: 10
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-09-24-episode-ten-robot-swarms-flocking-together
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-10-robotic-swarms

## Summary

Merihan Alhafnawi, a PhD researcher at the University of Bristol, and Dr. John Oyekan, a Lecturer at the University of Sheffield, discuss swarm robotics, focusing on how groups of robots collaborate to achieve common goals. Alhafnawi explains the concept of 'expressive' swarms that provide visual feedback through touchscreens for social applications like brainstorming, while Oyekan details algorithms inspired by nature for tasks such as mapping invisible hazardous substances in search and rescue operations. The episode covers the technical challenges of collision avoidance, human-swarm interaction, and the cognitive load of controlling large numbers of autonomous agents.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-09-24-episode-ten-robot-swarms-flocking-together#t=6) Introduction: Merihan Alhafnawi and the definition of robot swarms
- [2:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-09-24-episode-ten-robot-swarms-flocking-together#t=126) Expressive swarms and social applications like smart post-it notes
- [9:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-09-24-episode-ten-robot-swarms-flocking-together#t=557) Public engagement and reactions to swarm robots
- [14:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-09-24-episode-ten-robot-swarms-flocking-together#t=878) Introduction: Dr. John Oyekan and biological inspiration
- [17:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-09-24-episode-ten-robot-swarms-flocking-together#t=1039) Human-swarm interaction and supervisory control
- [21:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-09-24-episode-ten-robot-swarms-flocking-together#t=1273) Collision avoidance and sensing challenges in UAV swarms
- [23:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-09-24-episode-ten-robot-swarms-flocking-together#t=1429) Search and rescue: Mapping invisible hazardous substances

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- University of Bristol (company)
- University of Sheffield (company)
- Bristol Robotics Laboratory (company)
- EPSRC UK Robotics Network (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [103. Ant Inspired Swarm Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-01-03-103-ant-inspired-swarm-robots) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Robot development from Actuators to AI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-02-06-robot-development-from-actuators-to-ai) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [301: Giant Novelty Check](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-08-29-301-giant-novelty-check) (Embedded.fm)
- [Kate Darling on the Future of Robotics and AI Ethics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-10-24-kate-darling-on-the-future-of-robotics-and-ai-ethics) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [30. Climate Change AI, Robots Getting You Dressed, Drones Evacuating Nursing Homes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-08-10-30-climate-change-ai-robots-getting-you-dressed-drones-evacuating-nursing-homes) (The Next Byte Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-09-24-episode-ten-robot-swarms-flocking-together. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Robot Talk.