TaRDIS demonstrator - Programming tools for decentralised intelligence and swarms

Objective: Project and design of a demonstrator for the EDP R&D Center.

Purpose: Animated model for the Swarm Workshop in Brussels - Swarm Intelligence cluster of the Horizon Europe program.

Process: Parametric 3D CAD design, rapid prototyping / digital fabrication using additive and subtractive manufacturing techniques (3D printing, laser cutting and CNC machining), electronics and microcomputer programming (Raspberry Pi, addressable LED strip and switches).

Method: SolidWorks modeling; CNC machining of expanded PVC for the structure, 3D printing of scale models (houses, factories and supports), laser cutting of silhouettes, actuator electronics, and multi-threaded Python programming.

The model was designed together with the EDP R&D Center, with the EDP FabLab manufacturing the demonstrator's structure and various components using 3D modeling to fit into a carrying case.

The demonstrator has eight modules simulating two communities, composed of three Prosumers and one Community Orchestrator, each. As such, there are eight Open Source Raspberry Pi computers, interconnected with an Ethernet router to enable the Swarm network.

Each module has a computer, three control buttons, a process indicator LED, and an addressable LED bar to emulate energy flow. The swarm computing module set was programmed using Python code routines for this purpose.