Decentralized Dynamic Task Allocation Using Overlapping Potential Games
OA Location
Author(s)
Chapman, A
Micillo, RA
Kota, R
Jennings, N
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This paper reports on a novel decentralised technique for planning agent schedules in dynamic task allocation problems. Specifically, we use a stochastic game formulation of these problems in which tasks have varying hard deadlines and processing requirements. We then introduce a new technique for approximating this game using a series of static potential games, before detailing a decentralised method for solving the approximating games that uses the distributed stochastic algorithm. Finally, we discuss an implementation of our approach to a task allocation problem in the RoboCup Rescue disaster management simulator. The results show that our technique performs comparably to a centralised task scheduler (within 6% on average), and also, unlike its centralised counterpart, it is robust to restrictions on the agents? communication and observation ranges.
Date Issued
2010-03-12
Date Acceptance
2010-03-12
Citation
Computer Journal, 2010, 53 (9), pp.1462-1477
ISSN
1460-2067
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Start Page
1462
End Page
1477
Journal / Book Title
Computer Journal
Volume
53
Issue
9
Copyright Statement
© 2010 Oxford University Press. This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in The Computer Journal following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/comjnl/bxq023.
Identifier
http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/268518/
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Computer Science, Hardware & Architecture
Computer Science, Information Systems
Computer Science, Software Engineering
Computer Science, Theory & Methods
Computer Science
COMPUTER SCIENCE, HARDWARE & ARCHITECTURE
COMPUTER SCIENCE, INFORMATION SYSTEMS
COMPUTER SCIENCE, SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
COMPUTER SCIENCE, THEORY & METHODS
ALADDIN special issue
decentralized technique for planning agent schedules in dynamic task allocation problems
stochastic game formulation
SYSTEMS
Computation Theory & Mathematics
08 Information And Computing Sciences
Publication Status
Published