Patent ID: 6415274
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: G05D,G06F,G06N

Abstract:
A method of coordinating collective search by a plurality of agents, comprising, on each agent:a) Determining an individual status corresponding to the agent's probability of being near the search goal; b) Determining the status of and direction to neighboring agents; c) Determining the number of higher status agents, where a higher status agent is a neighboring agent with a higher status than the agent; d) If the number of higher status agents is less than an alpha0 threshold, wherein the alpha0 threshold is greater than zero, then moving according to an alpha0 decision rule; e) If the number of higher status agents is less than an alpha1 threshold, wherein the alpha1 threshold is greater than zero, then moving according to an alpha1 decision rule; f) If the number of higher status agents is greater than or equal to the alpha1 threshold, then moving according to a beta decision rule.