Cooperative Distributed Problem Solving for Controlling Semi-Autonomous and Autonomous Oceanographic Sampling Networks

The goal of this program is to develop mechanisms for the adaptive control of a distributed system. This capability will provide the means for an Autonomous Oceanographic Sampling Network (AOSN) to effectively control its group of vehicles and instrument platforms (VIPs) in the face of changing mission requirements, a changing pool of available agents, and a dynamic environment. The major objectives of this project are to do the following: (1) Develop a set of high-level protocols for the organization and reorganization of a group of underwater vehicles and nonmobile instrument platforms (VIPs), (2) Design and implement a simulator to model the aggregate behavior of a system of VIPs conducting a mission in accordance with the protocols, (3) Develop and conduct experiments on the simulator to show the feasibility of this approach, and (4) Design and implement VIP capabilities as generic behaviors. See also ADM002252. Prepared in cooperation with the University of Maine, Dept. of Computer Science, Orono, ME.