A system for moving robots in accordance with a predetermined algorithm. The system includes: a surface having a position-coding pattern which identifies the surface; mobile robots for moving across the surface, each robot being configured for sensing and decoding the position-coding pattern; and a computer system in communication with the mobile robots. The computer system is configured to send instructions for moving each mobile robot relative to the surface in response to position information corresponding to that mobile robot. Further, the computer system is configured to determine instructions for moving each mobile robot using a predetermined algorithm. The predetermined algorithm is selected on the basis of the identity of the surface.