Dynamic Assignment of Geospatial-Temporal Macro Tasks to Agents under Human Strategic Decisions for Centralized Scheduling in Multi-Agent Systems

Abstract

Abstract-Problem: This paper addresses a centralized scheduling problem in multi-agent systems in which the incident commander (IC) of a disaster-response team aims to coordinate the actions of the field units (rational agents) to minimize the total operation time in uncertain, dynamic, and spatial environments.Objective: The purpose of this paper is to propose an intelligent software system that assists the IC in the dynamic assignment of geospatial-temporal macro tasks to agents under human strategic decisions. This system autonomously executes a heuristic algorithm to minimize the maximum total dependent duration according to human high-level strategies.Results: The result is a schedule composed of macro decisions, each comprised of seven types of information: 1) what task type is going to be accomplished, 2) who (a subset of agents) are assigned to this assignment, 3) where this task is to be performed (a road segment or zone as a macro geospatial object) containing a subset of tasks, 4) when operations start, 5) when operations finish, 6) how many tasks are estimated to be completed, 7) what task types and the estimated number to be revealed (identified" or "enabled) in this location to complete this job.Conclusion: This result, which is a feasible solution for the addressed problem, permits the IC to coordinate agents, partially specify the activities of the agents in time and space, minimize the overall execution time for all the tasks, calculate the correct time to revise the strategic decisions, evaluate the efficiency of the high-level strategy, and estimate the makespan.

A study of time-varying cost parameter estimation methods in automated transportation systems based on mobile robots

“…• Problems with the cooperative and collaborative functions like scheduling [12], task allocation [14], path-planning [2] • Problems related to individual robots like localisation [5], dynamic and physical parameters identification and estimating [7], position and orientation estimation [4] and obstacle estimation [8] However, none of these proposed any solution for estimation of cost parameters, proposed here.In this work, unlike the previous work on parameter estimations, we investigate and find an approach to estimate these time-varying cost parameters which are actually derived from the robot level of each AGV as a result of functions done by the actuators and sensors in each AGV. But we are identifying and estimating them at the higher decision making levels to make better cost efficient functions at the robot level, so as to provide the necessary bridge between these two categories of works.…”

Intelligent Algorithm for Assignment of Agents to Human Strategy in Centralized Multi-agent Coordination

“…[14]. This spatial intelligent system supports the IC with intelligent algorithms for action planning and task scheduling for the centralized coordination of a team in a dynamic and spatial environment [15]. It applies a spatial database for geographic and locationbased information management and uses GIS functions to support development of these spatial intelligent algorithms [13], [14].…”

“…We have simulated the problem using a suitable approach [15]. An effective algorithm was used to dynamically assign the LoTeM tasks to the agents in the multiagent scheduling process.…”

“…Coordination is the act of managing interdependencies among activities performed to achieve a goal [11]. To maximize the global result, five types of coordination are considered to be managed within the team: 1) task dependencies, 2) action dependencies, 3) redundant actions, 4) information sharing, and 5) agent allocation [15]. Inefficient coordination can result in idle agents, conflict among actions, or redundant activities, and consequently, operations can require a very long duration to be completed.…”

Simulation of an Organization of Spatial Intelligent Agents in the Visual C#.NET Framework

“…This spatial intelligent system supports the IC with intelligent algorithms for action planning and task scheduling to centrally coordinate a team in a dynamic and spatial environment [3] , [4]. In addition, it uses a spatial database to manage geographic and location-based information and GIS functions to support the development of these spatial intelligent algorithms [5].…”