Cooperative Source Detection Using an Optimized Distributed Levy Flight Algorithm

Abstract

Source signal detection plays important roles in many real-world target searching problems. Source detection is necessary before a full search process utilizing the detected signal can be performed where minimizing the detection time and maximizing the search space exploration or coverage are the main problems. In this paper, an optimized Levy Flight algorithm known as a Distributed Levy Flight (DLF) for swarm agents is proposed. The DLF algorithm is optimized by means of repulsive artificial potential force to disperse the agents in order to optimize the search space coverage and detection time. Additionally, to integrate cooperative behavior, an artificial attractive force is used to maintain communication among the agents. The results showed that the proposed DLF algorithm successfully improve detection time (113.1s) and area coverage (78.3%) compared to the existing algorithms: Brownian Walk (325.5s, 31.7%), Correlated Random Walk (356.2s, 35.1%), Levy Flight (201.3s, 56.6%), Levy Flight with Artificial Potential Fields (151.9s, 70.2%).