Title
Orchestrating Multi-Robot Collaboration: From Aerial Drones to Heavy Mchinery
Speaker
Muhammad Hanif
Robotics Control Engineer, DeepX Inc
Date & Venue
Date: August 4, 2026
Venue: Multi-Purpose Digital Hall, Ookayama Campus
Abstract
Abstract [PDF]
Multi-robot coordination is becoming an important direction in robotics because many real-world tasks are too large,
complex, or time-critical for a single robot to handle alone. By working as a team, multiple robots can share sensing and
physical work, cover wider areas, and improve system efficiency and robustness [1, 2]. However, using many robots also
raises an important question: how should their collaboration be orchestrated? Similar to human teams, robot teams need
clear goals, role assignment, communication, conflict resolution, and safety rules [3]. This talk explores this question
through two real-world cases from academic research and industry: multi-drone coordination for 3D reconstruction, and
autonomous operation of multiple heavy construction machines.
As the first technical example, we will introduce work from the speaker’s doctoral research on collaborative multi-drone
systems for 3D map reconstruction [4, 5]. In this project, multiple drones observe an unknown environment from different
viewpoints, aiming toward efficient and adaptive 3D mapping. The key idea is to coordinate where the drones look and
move, while using feedback from the evolving reconstructed map to guide future observations. This example shows how
multi-robot coordination can help robots better perceive and understand the physical world.
As the second case, we will explore an industrial application that DeepX, Inc. is addressing: autonomous operation and
coordination systems for heavy construction machinery [6]. This work is motivated by challenges in Japan’s construction
industry, including labor shortages, an aging workforce, and the need safer and more efficient construction processes [7].
In constrained environments such as pneumatic caisson sites [8], multiple machines must operate safely and efficiently
while sharing limited workspaces and supporting human operators [9]. This brings practical challenges beyond algo-
rithms, including safety-aware planning, user interaction, system reliability, and deployment in real sites.
Through these examples, the talk will highlight that the future of robotics is not only about smarter individual robots, but
also about effective collaboration among robots and humans. We hope to provide an accessible introduction to multi-robot
collaboration, while sharing lessons from both academic research and industrial perspectives
References
-
J. K. Verma and V. Ranga, "Multi-robot coordination analysis, taxonomy, challenges and future scope," Journal of Intelligent & Robotic Systems, vol. 102, no. 1, p. 10, 2021.
-
M. Dorigo, G. Theraulaz, and V. Trianni, "Swarm robotics: Past, present, and future [point of view]," Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 109, no. 7, pp. 1152–1165, 2021.
-
T. Yasuda, Ed., Multi-Robot Systems, Trends and Development. InTech, 2011, doi: 10.5772/544.
-
M. Hanif, T. Shimizu, Z. Lu, M. Suenaga, and T. Hatanaka, "Efficient angle-aware coverage control for large-scale 3D map reconstruction using drone networks," SICE Journal of Control, Measurement, and System Integration, vol. 17, no. 1, 2024.
-
M. Hanif, R. Terunuma, T. Sumino, K. Cheng, and T. Hatanaka, "Coverage-Recon: Coordinated Multi-Drone Image Sampling with Online Map Feedback," arXiv preprint arXiv:2510.18347, 2025.
-
DeepX, Inc., "DeepX Solution Cases," https://www.deepx.co.jp/solution/cases/.
-
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, "Summary of the White Paper on Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan, 2025," 2025. https://www.mlit.go.jp/hakusyo/mlit/r06/hakusho/r07/data/R7_English%20Summary.pdf.
-
K. Ishikawa et al., "Automatic excavation system with multiple excavators in the pneumatic caisson method," Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics, vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 961–972, 2024.
-
DeepX, Inc., "Solution for the Pneumatic Caisson Method," https://www.deepx.co.jp/cases/pneumatic_caisson_solution/.
[Contact]
muhammad.hanif@deepx.co.jp
Home
Muhammad Hanif Robotics Control Engineer, DeepX Inc
Date & Venue
Date: August 4, 2026
Venue: Multi-Purpose Digital Hall, Ookayama Campus
Abstract
Abstract [PDF]
Multi-robot coordination is becoming an important direction in robotics because many real-world tasks are too large,
complex, or time-critical for a single robot to handle alone. By working as a team, multiple robots can share sensing and
physical work, cover wider areas, and improve system efficiency and robustness [1, 2]. However, using many robots also
raises an important question: how should their collaboration be orchestrated? Similar to human teams, robot teams need
clear goals, role assignment, communication, conflict resolution, and safety rules [3]. This talk explores this question
through two real-world cases from academic research and industry: multi-drone coordination for 3D reconstruction, and
autonomous operation of multiple heavy construction machines.
As the first technical example, we will introduce work from the speaker’s doctoral research on collaborative multi-drone
systems for 3D map reconstruction [4, 5]. In this project, multiple drones observe an unknown environment from different
viewpoints, aiming toward efficient and adaptive 3D mapping. The key idea is to coordinate where the drones look and
move, while using feedback from the evolving reconstructed map to guide future observations. This example shows how
multi-robot coordination can help robots better perceive and understand the physical world.
As the second case, we will explore an industrial application that DeepX, Inc. is addressing: autonomous operation and
coordination systems for heavy construction machinery [6]. This work is motivated by challenges in Japan’s construction
industry, including labor shortages, an aging workforce, and the need safer and more efficient construction processes [7].
In constrained environments such as pneumatic caisson sites [8], multiple machines must operate safely and efficiently
while sharing limited workspaces and supporting human operators [9]. This brings practical challenges beyond algo-
rithms, including safety-aware planning, user interaction, system reliability, and deployment in real sites.
Through these examples, the talk will highlight that the future of robotics is not only about smarter individual robots, but
also about effective collaboration among robots and humans. We hope to provide an accessible introduction to multi-robot
collaboration, while sharing lessons from both academic research and industrial perspectives
References
- J. K. Verma and V. Ranga, "Multi-robot coordination analysis, taxonomy, challenges and future scope," Journal of Intelligent & Robotic Systems, vol. 102, no. 1, p. 10, 2021.
- M. Dorigo, G. Theraulaz, and V. Trianni, "Swarm robotics: Past, present, and future [point of view]," Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 109, no. 7, pp. 1152–1165, 2021.
- T. Yasuda, Ed., Multi-Robot Systems, Trends and Development. InTech, 2011, doi: 10.5772/544.
- M. Hanif, T. Shimizu, Z. Lu, M. Suenaga, and T. Hatanaka, "Efficient angle-aware coverage control for large-scale 3D map reconstruction using drone networks," SICE Journal of Control, Measurement, and System Integration, vol. 17, no. 1, 2024.
- M. Hanif, R. Terunuma, T. Sumino, K. Cheng, and T. Hatanaka, "Coverage-Recon: Coordinated Multi-Drone Image Sampling with Online Map Feedback," arXiv preprint arXiv:2510.18347, 2025.
- DeepX, Inc., "DeepX Solution Cases," https://www.deepx.co.jp/solution/cases/.
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, "Summary of the White Paper on Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan, 2025," 2025. https://www.mlit.go.jp/hakusyo/mlit/r06/hakusho/r07/data/R7_English%20Summary.pdf.
- K. Ishikawa et al., "Automatic excavation system with multiple excavators in the pneumatic caisson method," Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics, vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 961–972, 2024.
- DeepX, Inc., "Solution for the Pneumatic Caisson Method," https://www.deepx.co.jp/cases/pneumatic_caisson_solution/.