Abstract: The aim of this paper is to provide evidence that swarm robotic systems can be perceived
as new media objects. A thorough description of the five principles of new media proposed by Lev
Manovich in “The Language of New Media” is presented. This is complemented by a state of the
art on swarm robotics with an in-depth comparison of the characteristics of both fields. Also
presented are examples of swarm robotics used in new media installations in order to illustrate the
cutting-edge applications of robotics and artificial intelligence achieved through the unity of both
fields. The hypothesis of this research is that a novel point of view would be introduced by
examining the field of swarm robotics through the scope of new media, which would benefit the
work of both new media and swarm robotic researchers.
Keywords: new media object, swarm robotics, principles of Manovich