The Communications Maintenance and Optimization Problem in Robotic Multi-hop Networks: Assumptions, Models, and Algorithms

Abstract

An important problem in robotics is the Communications Maintenance and Optimization Problem (CMOP). In this problem, we have a set of robots that are communicating with one another across a multi-hop wireless network. The primary constraint is that the robots must maintain communications between all pairs of robots, ideally in an optimal manner, while performing their assigned tasks. In this report, I describe a set of constraints and metrics for roboticists to use while trying to solve this problem. I define the Useful Model, which is only able to model a subset of those constraints and metrics, and analyze how it limits what controllers can be created using the information it contains. Next, I describe two data models that contain subsets of the information in the model that try to solve the communications problem, showing how the limitations of the model hinder the ability of the controllers to solve the problem. Finally, I describe several ways to extend the model to include more information, which may lead to better controllers in the future.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA570862

Entities

People

  • Cem Karan

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Algorithms
  • Energy Conservation
  • Energy Consumption
  • Environment
  • Equations
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Guarantees
  • Intervals
  • Maintenance
  • Measurement
  • Military Research
  • Probability
  • Probability Distributions
  • Topology
  • Wireless Networks

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Neural Network Machine Learning.
  • Robotics and Automation.

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • AI & ML - Autonomous Systems
  • AI & ML - Machine Learning Algorithms
  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - Autonomous System Control