Social networks in simulated multi‐robot environment
International Journal of Intelligent Computing and Cybernetics
ISSN: 1756-378X
Article publication date: 28 March 2008
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a novel approach to coordination of multi‐agent teams, and in particular multi‐robot teams. The new approach is based on models of organisational sociology, namely the concept of social networks. The social relationships used in the model that is presented in this paper are trust and kinship relationships, but modified for use in heterogeneous multi‐robot teams.
Design/methodology/approach
The coordination of a robot team is achieved through task allocation. The proposed task allocation mechanism was tested in the multi‐robot team task allocation simulation.
Findings
The social networks‐based task allocation algorithm has performed according to expectations and the obtained results are very promising. Some intriguing similarities with higher mammalian societies were observed and they are discussed in this paper. The social networks‐based approach also exhibited the ability to learn and store information using social networks.
Research limitations/implications
The research focused on simulated environments and further research is envisaged in the physical environments to confirm the applicability of the presented approach.
Practical implications
In this paper, the proposed coordination was applied to simulated multi‐robot teams. It is important to note that the proposed coordination model is not robot specific, but can also be applied to almost any multi‐agent system without major modifications.
Originality/value
The paper emphasizes applicability of considering multi‐robot teams as socially embodied agents. It also presents a novel and efficient approach to task allocation.
Keywords
Citation
Rodić, D. and Engelbrecht, A.P. (2008), "Social networks in simulated multi‐robot environment", International Journal of Intelligent Computing and Cybernetics, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 110-127. https://doi.org/10.1108/17563780810857158
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2008, Emerald Group Publishing Limited