GENETIC PROGRAMMING OF MULTI-AGENT COOPERATION STRATEGIES FOR TABLE TRANSPORT

Transporting a large table using multiple robotic agents requires at least two group behaviors of homing and herding which are to bo coordinated in a proper sequence. Existing GP methods for multi-agent learning are not practical enough to find an optimal solution in this domain. To evolve this kind of complex cooperative behavior we use a novel method called fitness switching. This method maintains a pool of basis fitness functions each of which corresponds to a primitive group behavior. The basis functions are then progressively combined into more complex fitness functions to co-evolve more complex behavior. The performance of the presented method is compared with that of two conventional methods. Experimental results show that coevolutionary fitness switching provides an effective mechanism for evolving complex emergent behavior which may not be solved by simple genetic programming.