Swarm robotics is a new type of approach for the coordination of agent-based model systems, made up of a large number of relatively simple robots.[1]​ The goal of this approach is to study the design of robots (both at a physical level and their behavioral behaviors), so that predetermined collective behavior patterns emerge through interactions between robots and robots with their environment, following the example of the emergent behavior patterns observed in social insects, called intelligence. swarm.

It has been found that by enhancing a set of relatively primitive individual behaviors through communication systems, a large set of complex swarm behaviors will emerge.

Unlike distributed robotics systems in general, swarm robotics emphasizes the use of a high number of robots, and promotes scalability, for example by only using local communication. This type of communication is achieved through the use of wireless transmission systems, both radio frequency and infrared.

The potential application of swarm robotics includes tasks that require, on the one hand, extreme miniaturization (nanorobotics, microrobotics"), such as distributed systems of sensors and actuators in micromachinery") or the human body. And on the other hand, swarm robotics are indicated for tasks that require extremely economical designs, such as for mining tasks, or for measurement systems in agriculture. Cutting-edge artists are using techniques related to swarm robotics to create new forms of interactive art installations.

Both miniaturization and cost are restrictive factors that emphasize the simplicity of the individual agents that make up the team, and therefore motivate swarm intelligence approaches to achieve behaviors that make sense at that level.

It is necessary to investigate in depth to find methodologies that allow the design and accurate prediction of swarm behaviors, based on the characteristics of the individual swarm agents. To this end, monitoring tools, such as video monitoring, are essential for the systematic study of behaviors.

The Bristol Robotics Laboratory has developed an ultrasonic positioning and tracking system for swarm research.