Drones (Jun 2022)

Entropy-Based Distributed Behavior Modeling for Multi-Agent UAVs

  • Luke Fina,
  • Douglas Shane Smith,
  • Jason Carnahan,
  • Hakki Erhan Sevil

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/drones6070164
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 7
p. 164

Abstract

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This study presents a novel distributed behavior model for multi-agent unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) based on the entropy of the system. In the developed distributed behavior model, when the entropy of the system is high, the UAVs get closer to reduce the overall entropy; this is called the grouping phase. If the entropy is less than the predefined threshold, then the UAVs switch to the mission phase and proceed to a global goal. Computer simulations are performed in AirSim, an open-source, cross-platform simulator. Comprehensive parameter analysis is performed, and parameters with the best results are implemented in multiple-waypoint navigation experiments. The results show the feasibility of the concept and the effectiveness of the distributed behavior model for multi-agent UAVs.

Keywords