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Decentralised Control of Continuously Valued Control Parameters using the Max-Sum Algorithm

Decentralised Control of Continuously Valued Control Parameters using the Max-Sum Algorithm
Decentralised Control of Continuously Valued Control Parameters using the Max-Sum Algorithm
In this paper we address the problem of decentralised coordination for agents that must make coordinated decisions over continuously valued control parameters (as is required in many real world applications). In particular, we tackle the social welfare maximisation problem, and derive a novelcontinuous version of the max-sum algorithm. In order to do so, we represent the utility functionof the agents by multivariate piecewise linear functions, which in turn are encoded as simplexes.We then derive analytical solutions for the fundamental operations required to implement the max-sum algorithm (specifically, addition and marginal maximisation of general n-ary piecewise linearfunctions). We empirically evaluate our approach on a simulated network of wireless, energy constrained sensors that must coordinate their sense/sleep cycles in order to maximise the system-wide probability of event detection. We compare the conventional discrete max-sum algorithm with our novel continuous version, and show that the continuous approach obtains more accurate solutions (up to a 10% increase) with a lower communication overhead (up to half of the total message size).
601-608
Stranders, Ruben
cca79d07-0668-4231-a80f-5fae6617644c
Farinelli, Alessandro
d2f26070-f403-4cae-b712-7097cb2e3fc6
Rogers, Alex
f9130bc6-da32-474e-9fab-6c6cb8077fdc
Jennings, Nick
ab3d94cc-247c-4545-9d1e-65873d6cdb30
Stranders, Ruben
cca79d07-0668-4231-a80f-5fae6617644c
Farinelli, Alessandro
d2f26070-f403-4cae-b712-7097cb2e3fc6
Rogers, Alex
f9130bc6-da32-474e-9fab-6c6cb8077fdc
Jennings, Nick
ab3d94cc-247c-4545-9d1e-65873d6cdb30

Stranders, Ruben, Farinelli, Alessandro, Rogers, Alex and Jennings, Nick (2009) Decentralised Control of Continuously Valued Control Parameters using the Max-Sum Algorithm. 8th International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems, Budapest. 10 - 15 May 2009. pp. 601-608 .

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

In this paper we address the problem of decentralised coordination for agents that must make coordinated decisions over continuously valued control parameters (as is required in many real world applications). In particular, we tackle the social welfare maximisation problem, and derive a novelcontinuous version of the max-sum algorithm. In order to do so, we represent the utility functionof the agents by multivariate piecewise linear functions, which in turn are encoded as simplexes.We then derive analytical solutions for the fundamental operations required to implement the max-sum algorithm (specifically, addition and marginal maximisation of general n-ary piecewise linearfunctions). We empirically evaluate our approach on a simulated network of wireless, energy constrained sensors that must coordinate their sense/sleep cycles in order to maximise the system-wide probability of event detection. We compare the conventional discrete max-sum algorithm with our novel continuous version, and show that the continuous approach obtains more accurate solutions (up to a 10% increase) with a lower communication overhead (up to half of the total message size).

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More information

Published date: May 2009
Additional Information: Event Dates: 10-15 May
Venue - Dates: 8th International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems, Budapest, 2009-05-10 - 2009-05-15
Organisations: Agents, Interactions & Complexity

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 267314
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/267314
PURE UUID: 1491daf2-f275-4c16-b004-e4569636b23b

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 01 May 2009 15:56
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 08:47

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Contributors

Author: Ruben Stranders
Author: Alessandro Farinelli
Author: Alex Rogers
Author: Nick Jennings

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