How Swarm Robot Dynamic Can Describe Mechanical Systems

In this paper we shall see how a study, started from flocking rules normally used to spatially coordinate a large number of cooperating robots, can be used to solve deformation problems of a continuous material. The advantage is to save compute time with respect of traditional solution of Newton's equations. To this aim we shall impose kinematic rules between the material points as if they were component robots of a swarm and, as such, with precise distancing behaviours borrowed from bird starlings. The approach used is purely kinematic and makes no claim to accuracy but provides very plausible results. Although the force of gravity is not often present in the space domain the deformation of materials, due to the large temperature range, is a hot topic for robotic systems used in that domain. The model is able to reproduce the behaviour of deformable bodies with standard or generalized (Cauchy or second gradient) deformation energy density. The tool gives a plausible simulation of continuum deformation also in fracture case. Some of the material has already been published, but there is an important change from the old papers: a new calculation technique has been used that allows significant progress and appears to be very promising.