Robotics Protocols

How robots coordinate, execute tasks, and prove work. Two protocol layers: The Three Flows (execution) and Intercognitive (coordination).

The Three Flows

Same architecture that governs telecom and payments applies to robotics:

INTENT → ROUTE → INFRASTRUCTURE → SETTLE → FEEDBACK
   ↓        ↓           ↓              ↓          ↓
 Task    Path AI    Robot body     Proof of    Sensor
                    (motors,       work →      data →
                    sensors)       tokens      learning

Flow Stage	Robotics Implementation	Provider
Intent	Task specification (move X, assemble Y)	User or orchestration layer
Route	Path planning, obstacle avoidance, task sequencing	AI / onboard compute
Infrastructure	Physical robot (actuators, sensors, chassis)	DePIN operators
Settle	Proof of work, payment for task completion	Blockchain
Feedback	Sensor data, task outcomes, learning signals	Robot → AI training

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Task Execution Protocol

How a single task moves from request to completion.

Workflow

Step	Action	Verification	Output
1	Request	Task specification validated	Accepted task
2	Assign	Capability matching	Robot selected
3	Plan	Path and action planning	Execution plan
4	Execute	Real-time monitoring	Task actions
5	Verify	Outcome attestation	Proof of work
6	Settle	Token distribution	Payment
7	Learn	Data logged for training	Training data

Proof of Work

Task ID → Robot ID → Start Time → Actions Log → End Time → Outcome → Signature

Why blockchain: Every task creates an immutable record of who did what, when, and with what result. This is the audit trail that enables trust in autonomous systems.

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Intercognitive Standard

The Intercognitive Standard defines how physical AI systems coordinate. Nine pillars for multi-robot operations.

Pillar	Function	Why Robots Need It
Identity	Self-sovereign machine passports	Know which robot did what
Positioning	RTK-precision location	Navigate precisely
Sensors	Standardized perception data	Interoperate with environment
Compute	Decentralized AI backbone	Process at edge and cloud
Connectivity	Network links	Communicate with fleet
Orchestration	Multi-robot coordination	Swarm behavior
Maps	Navigation data	Know the terrain
Fees	P2P transaction systems	Get paid for work
Standards	Interoperability rules	Work with any system

Why Nine Pillars

Single robots need 3-4 pillars (identity, positioning, compute, connectivity). Coordinated swarms need all nine. The gap between single-robot and swarm-capable systems is the Intercognitive Standard.

The analogy: TCP/IP standardized internet communication. Intercognitive standardizes physical AI coordination.

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Coordination Patterns

Single Robot

User → Task → Robot → Execute → Verify → Pay

Simple. One task, one machine, one outcome.

Fleet Coordination

User → Task Pool → Orchestrator → Assign → Execute (parallel) → Aggregate → Verify → Pay

Multiple robots, parallel execution, aggregated outcomes.

Swarm Intelligence

Environment → Shared Perception → Distributed Planning → Coordinated Execution → Collective Learning

No central orchestrator. Robots negotiate tasks, share perception, and coordinate autonomously.

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Connection to Telecom

Robotics protocols parallel telecom protocols at every layer:

Layer	Telecom	Robotics
Intent	Data request	Task request
Route	Packet routing	Path planning
Infrastructure	Towers, hotspots	Robot bodies, actuators
Settle	Data credit burn	Proof of work settlement
Feedback	Coverage quality	Task outcome data

The pattern: Physical infrastructure protocols converge. The same architecture handles connectivity, mobility, and task execution.

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Protocol Economics

Component	Revenue Model	Token Flow
Task marketplace	Commission on task value	Burn on task completion
Robot deployment	Operator staking rewards	Inflationary rewards, decreasing
Data marketplace	Per-query fees	Usage-based burn
Coordination	Protocol fee on swarm tasks	Fee distribution to validators

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Context

• Robotics Overview — The transformation thesis
• Intercognitive Standard — Full protocol specification
• Platform — ABCD stack for robots
• Telecom Protocols — Parallel architecture