1. Simulation Environment Evaluating AI Algorithms for Search Missions Using Drone Swarms
- Author
-
Sundelius, Nils, Funk, Peter, Sohlberg, Rickard, Sundelius, Nils, Funk, Peter, and Sohlberg, Rickard
- Abstract
Search missions for objects are relevant in both industrial and civilian context, such as searching for a missing child in a forest or to locating equipment in a building or large factory. To send out a drone swarm to quickly locate a misplaced item in a factory, a missing machine on a building site or a missing child in a forest is very similar. Image-based Machine Learning algorithms are now so powerful that they can be trained to identify objects with high accuracy in real time. The next challenge is to perform the search as efficiently as possible, using as little time and energy as possible. If we have information about the area to search, we can use heuristic and probabilistic methods to perform an efficient search. In this paper, we present a case study where we developed a method and approach to evaluate different search algorithms enabling the selection of the most suitable, i.e., most efficient search algorithm for the task at hand. A couple of probabilistic and heuristic search methods were implemented for testing purposes, and they are the following: Bayesian Search together with a Hill Climbing search algorithm and Bayesian Search together with an A-star search algorithm. A swarm adapted lawn mower search strategy is also implemented. In our case study, we see that the performance of the search heavily depends on the area to search in and domain knowledge, e.g., knowledge about how a child is expected to move through a forest area when lost. In our tests, we see that there are significant gains to be made by selecting a search algorithm suitable for the search context at hand.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF