Robots, in contrast to typical computational systems, affect the physical environment directly. Therefore, other assumptions must be considered for task management procedures in these system types. Robots coexist with humans in the environment and act upon potentially dangerous objects (e.g., a cooker); hence, extra safety procedures in robot task harmonisation must be ensured. Additionally, an algorithm that schedules tasks for a robot and optimises the robot's operation needs to consider the robot motion time, dynamics of the physical processes, changes in the robot user preferences and changes in the environment made by other habitants. In this article, we investigate the problem of switching between various independent tasks safely and state requirements for a control system resolving it. The tasks are uploaded to a store, launched on a robot at the user's request (similar to smartphone applications) and scheduled following a configurable algorithm. Furthermore, we design a model of systems satisfying the requirements. The systems are structured with agents of different classes. We propose a task-switching procedure and dedicated states of the finite-state machines describing the operation of the agents. Finally, we present a TaskER framework implementing the model, and we verify the model through the execution of an exemplary system in scenarios showing the benefits of the model implementation. As a result of our approach application, the robot tasks can be safely interrupted, postponed, resumed, and potential danger (e.g., leaving a cooker on for a long time) can be minimised.

The paper presents the Embodied Agent-based Robot control system modelling Language (EARL). EARL follows a Model-Driven Software Development approach (MDSD), which facilitates robot control system development. It is based on a mathematical method of robot controller specification, employing the concept of an Embodied Agent, and a graphical modelling language: System Modelling Language (SysML). It combines the ease of use of SysML with the precision of mathematical specification of certain aspects of the designed system. It makes the whole system specification effective, from the point of view of the time needed to create it, conciseness of the specification and the possibility of its analysis. By using EARL it is possible to specify systems both with fixed and variable structure. This was achieved by introducing a generalised system model and presenting particular structures of the system in terms of modelling block configurations adapted by using instances. FABRIC framework was created to support the implementation of EARL-based controllers. EARL is compatible with component based robotic middlewares (e.g., ROS and Orocos).

A review of the known and an indication of the new threats for cyber-physical robotic systems, caused by cybernetic attacks, serves, in this paper, as a basis for the analysis of the known methods relied upon to detect and mitigate consequences of such attacks. A particular emphasis is placed on threats specific for cyber-physical systems, as they are a feature distinguishing these systems from their traditional Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) counterparts. Based on the review of literature and own analyses, unresolved issues regarding the cyber-security of robot systems are presented and discussed.

This article proposes a formal method of designing robotic systems focusing on communication between components, as well as standardization of the messages between those components. The objective is to design a robotic system controller in a systematic way, focusing on communication at an abstract agent level. Communication, thus organized, and its properly defined specification facilitate the system’s further development. The method uses a standard message structure, based on IEEE FIPA standards, for communication within robotic systems composed of agents. Communication-focused top-down design of robotic systems based on binary decomposition is proposed, and used to design a companion robot working in the kitchen environment. The implemented robotic system is verified based on whether or not the specification conforms to the specified requirements. The characteristics of the designed communication are evaluated. The obtained results prove that the proposed method of designing robotic systems is formally correct, it facilitates the implementation of agents, and separates specification of the system from its implementation. The method of designing robotic systems is correct and useful. The proposed formal notation facilitates understanding of how the system operates and organizes the design process. It puts the communication between system components at the forefront. The resulting system specification facilitates the implementation. The tools for experimental evaluation of its characteristics enable the confirmation that it fulfills the requirements, and that the communication between the system components is correct.

Social robots' software is commonly tested in a simulation due to the safety and convenience reasons as well as an environment configuration repeatability assurance. An interaction between a robot and a human requires taking a person presence and his movement abilities into consideration. The purpose of the article is to present the HuBeRo framework, which can be used to simulate human motion behaviour. The framework allows independent control of each individual's activity, which distinguishes the presented approach from state-of-the-art, open-source solutions from the robotics domain. The article presents the framework assumptions, architecture and an example application with respect to presented scenarios.