Strategy of Object Search for Distributed Autonomous Robotic Systems

Abstract

This paper presents the strategy for searching a hidden object in an unknown area for using by multiple distributed autonomous robotic systems (DARS). To search the target in Markovian space, DARS should recognize th ε ir surrounding at where they are located and generate some rules to act upon by themselves. First of all, DARS obtain 6-distances from itself to environment by infrared sensor which are hexagonally allocated around itself. Second, it calculates 6-areas with those distances then take an action, i.e., turn and move toward where the widest space will be guaranteed. After the action is taken, the value of Q will be updated by relative formula at the state. We set up an experimental environment with five small mobile robots, obstacles, and a target object, and tried to research for a target object while navigating in a un known hallway where some obstacles were placed. In the end of this paper, we present the results of three algorithms - a random search, an area-based action making process to determine the next action of the robot and hexagon-based Q-learning to enhance the area-based action making process.