RANT: Ant-Inspired Multi-Robot Rainforest Exploration Using Particle Filter Localisation and Virtual Pheromone Coordination

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Alhashemi, Ameer, Abdulhadi, Layan, Abuodeh, Karam, Baghdadi, Tala, Datla, Suryanarayana
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2026
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author Alhashemi, Ameer
Abdulhadi, Layan
Abuodeh, Karam
Baghdadi, Tala
Datla, Suryanarayana
author_facet Alhashemi, Ameer
Abdulhadi, Layan
Abuodeh, Karam
Baghdadi, Tala
Datla, Suryanarayana
contents This paper presents RANT, an ant-inspired multi-robot exploration framework for noisy, uncertain environments. A team of differential-drive robots navigates a 10 x 10 m terrain, collects noisy probe measurements of a hidden richness field, and builds local probabilistic maps while the supervisor maintains a global evaluation. RANT combines particle-filter localisation, a behaviour-based controller with gradient-driven hotspot exploitation, and a lightweight no-revisit coordination mechanism based on virtual pheromone blocking. We experimentally analyse how team size, localisation fidelity, and coordination influence coverage, hotspot recall, and redundancy. Results show that particle filtering is essential for reliable hotspot engagement, coordination substantially reduces overlap, and increasing team size improves coverage but yields diminishing returns due to interference.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_09661
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle RANT: Ant-Inspired Multi-Robot Rainforest Exploration Using Particle Filter Localisation and Virtual Pheromone Coordination
Alhashemi, Ameer
Abdulhadi, Layan
Abuodeh, Karam
Baghdadi, Tala
Datla, Suryanarayana
Robotics
This paper presents RANT, an ant-inspired multi-robot exploration framework for noisy, uncertain environments. A team of differential-drive robots navigates a 10 x 10 m terrain, collects noisy probe measurements of a hidden richness field, and builds local probabilistic maps while the supervisor maintains a global evaluation. RANT combines particle-filter localisation, a behaviour-based controller with gradient-driven hotspot exploitation, and a lightweight no-revisit coordination mechanism based on virtual pheromone blocking. We experimentally analyse how team size, localisation fidelity, and coordination influence coverage, hotspot recall, and redundancy. Results show that particle filtering is essential for reliable hotspot engagement, coordination substantially reduces overlap, and increasing team size improves coverage but yields diminishing returns due to interference.
title RANT: Ant-Inspired Multi-Robot Rainforest Exploration Using Particle Filter Localisation and Virtual Pheromone Coordination
topic Robotics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.09661