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arXiv · 2107.01623

Decentralized trajectory optimization for multi-agent exploration

Dimitris Gkouletsos·Andrea Iannelli·Mathias Hudoba de Badyn·John Lygeros
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Abstract

Autonomous exploration is an application of growing importance in robotics. A promising strategy is ergodic trajectory planning, whereby an agent spends in each area a fraction of time which is proportional to its probability information density function. In this paper, a decentralized ergodic multi-agent trajectory planning algorithm featuring limited communication constraints is proposed. The agents' trajectories are designed by optimizing a weighted cost encompassing ergodicity, control energy and close-distance operation objectives. To solve the underlying optimal control problem, a second-order descent iterative method coupled with a projection operator in the form of an optimal feedback controller is used. Exhaustive numerical analyses show that the multi-agent solution allows a much more efficient exploration in terms of completion task time and control energy distribution by leveraging collaboration among agents.

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Dimitris Gkouletsos, Andrea Iannelli, Mathias Hudoba de Badyn, John Lygeros. 2021-07-04. Decentralized trajectory optimization for multi-agent exploration. https://arxiv.org/abs/2107.01623

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