Using lazy agents to improve the flocking efficiency of multiple UAVs

Date

2021-10-27

Supervisor/s

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Springer

Department

Type

Article

ISSN

0921-0296

Format

Citation

Song Y, Gu M, Choi J, et al., (2021) Using lazy agents to improve the flocking efficiency of multiple UAVs. Journal of Intelligent and Robotic Systems, Volume 103, Issue 3, November 2021, Article number 53

Abstract

A group of agents can form a flock using the augmented Cucker-Smale (C-S) model. The model autonomously aligns them to a common velocity and maintains a relative distance among the agents in a distributed manner by sharing the information among neighbors. This paper introduces the concept of inactiveness to the augmented C-S model for improving the flocking performance. It involves controlling the energy and convergence time required to form a stable flock. Inspired by the natural world where a few lazy (or inactive) workers are helpful to the group performance in social insect colonies. In this study, we analyzed different levels of inactiveness as a degree of control input effectiveness for multiple fixed-wing UAVs in the flocking algorithm. To find the appropriate inactiveness level for each flock member, the particle swarm optimization-based approach is used as the first step, based on the initial condition of the flock. However, as the significant computational burden may cause difficulties in implementing the optimization-based approach in real time, we also propose a heuristic adaptive inactiveness approach, which changes the inactivity level of selected agents adaptively according to their position and heading relative to the flock center. The performance of the proposed approaches using the concept of lazy (or inactive) agents is verified with numerical simulations by comparing them with the conventional flocking algorithm in various scenarios.

Description

Software Description

Software Language

Github

Keywords

Multi-agent system, Flocking algorithm, Augmented Cucker-Smale model, Inactiveness, Particle swarm optimization

DOI

Rights

Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International

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