Technical Reports (ESE)
Abstract
We consider deployment problems where a mobile robotic network must optimize its configuration in a distributed way in order to minimize a steady-state cost function that depends on the spatial distribution of certain probabilistic events of interest. Three classes of problems are discussed in detail: coverage control problems, spatial partitioning problems, and dynamic vehicle routing problems. Moreover, we assume that the event distribution is a priori unknown, and can only be progressively inferred from the observation of the location of the actual event occurrences. For each problem we present distributed stochastic gradient algorithms that optimize the performance objective. The stochastic gradient view simplifies and generalizes previously proposed solutions, and is applicable to new complex scenarios, for example adaptive coverage involving heterogeneous agents. Finally, our algorithms often take the form of simple distributed rules that could be implemented on resource-limited platforms.
Document Type
Technical Report
Date of this Version
10-25-2010
Keywords
robotics, coverage control problems, partitioning algorithms, stochastic gradient algorithms, dynamic vehicle routing problems, adaptive algorithms
Included in
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Commons, Controls and Control Theory Commons, Operational Research Commons, Robotics Commons, Theory and Algorithms Commons
Date Posted: 26 October 2010