Advanced Applications of Swarm Robots in Astronomy, Specifically in Outer Space and on Celestial Objects

Abstract

Swarm robots are simple physical robots that work collectively, coordinating and communicating amongst each other resulting in intelligence and computational power far more than the capacity of a single robot amongst them; to do complex, big, time-consuming, and sophisticated tasks. These are simple, strong, robust, less prone to damage, inexpensive, easily producible, and fast; therefore, they are perfect for astronomical uses, especially in outer space and on celestial objects. The main basic focus of our paper is the applications of swarm robotics in Astronomy, specifically in space. To cover all the applications and not leave anything behind, we have developed a hierarchical system, named by us as Pingakshak’s system, and have divided the applications in groups such that even if there are applications beyond our present time's technology, the system, can still be useful, and the system developed is also flexible, i.e., more groups and applications can be added later. We then also have reviewed eleven research papers, two theses, and one book to give an idea about the amount of research that is being carried out in this field. We then have identified all the grey areas in the result section, pointing towards all the applications with very little and incomplete research and informing other researchers about the incompleteness in the field of swarm robotics.