Secure cooperation in a distributed robot system using active RFIDs

In this article, we develop a distributed robotic system that can provide various services in a real environment using ad-hoc networked active radio frequency identifications (RFIDs). These services are derived from a large amount of data acquired from sensors connected to active RFIDs. The primary advantage of this method is that it facilitates the construction of a real-environment monitoring system. Furthermore, a human's status and position can easily be identified by fitting active RFIDs to subjects. However, a security system is required for a radio ad-hoc network and a cooperation system between active RFIDs. In our research, we developed a multirobot cooperating system as a multiagent system and applied it to an active RFID, which has limited resources. We also developed a security system for active RFID communication that can be executed using limited resources. We then integrated the multiagent system and security system. We also constructed a robotic environment that can provide various services using active RFIDs and then evaluated it. This work was presented in part at the 10th International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics, Oita, Japan, February 4–6, 2005