Publications by Kevin Andrew Holdcroft

Memento Mori: Reliable robustness in self-reconfigurable modular robots

Modular robotics link the reliability of a centralised system with the adaptivity of a decentralised system. It is difficult for a robot with a fixed shape to be able to perform many different types of tasks. As the task space grows, the number of functi ...

EPFL2024

Morphological flexibility in robotic systems through physical polygon meshing

Jamie Paik, Christoph Heinrich Belke, Kevin Andrew Holdcroft, Alexander Thomas Sigrist

Shape-changing robots adapt their own morphology to address a wider range of functions or environments than is possible with a fixed or rigid structure. Akin to biological organisms, the ability to alter shape or configuration emerges from the underlying m ...

Nature Portfolio2023

Modulo Cellulo: Modular Versatile Tangible Educational Robots

Pierre Dillenbourg, Jamie Paik, Hala Khodr, Kevin Andrew Holdcroft, Barbara Bruno

This article presents the novel modular version of the robotic platform Cellulo, a versatile handheld robot initially designed as an educational robot. The use of Cellulo in different contexts and applications over the years has highlighted the need for mo ...

2022

Hybrid Wireless-Local Communication via Information Propagation for Modular Robotic Synchronization Applications

Jamie Paik, Christoph Heinrich Belke, Kevin Andrew Holdcroft, Alexander Thomas Sigrist

Modular robots hold promise of adaptability, robustness, and versatility. Synchronization of modules is critical; if a module is asynchronous, not only will the robot fail to perform tasks properly, but its behavior may be self-destructive through self-col ...

WILEY2022

Modular robot networking: a novel schema and its performance assessment

Jamie Paik, Christoph Heinrich Belke, Kevin Andrew Holdcroft, Anastasia Bolotnikova

Modular robots (MRs) consist of unique robots which interconnect and work as a collective to perform objectives. Coordinating these robots rely on robust communication, as modules moving independently can lead to damaging behaviour. We present a robust str ...

IEEE2022

3PAC: A Plug-and-Play System for Distributed Power Sharing and Communication in Modular Robots

Jamie Paik, Christoph Heinrich Belke, Kevin Andrew Holdcroft

In modular robotics, there is classically a compromise between coupling complexity and functionality. The mechanical and electrical designs are linked, such that adding electrical features often requires redesigning the mechanical components. However, incr ...

IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC2022