Security by Design: Reducing Information Exchange in Multi-Agent Search Tasks
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Authors
Kulchyk, Jeremy
Date
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
Discrete-Event Systems , Multi-Agent Systems , Exploration
Alternative Title
Abstract
Intrinsic to multi-agent systems is the trait of inter-agent dependency on information exchange. During safety-critical tasks, errors in information exchange between agents can lead to vulnerable system behaviour. Consequently, adversarial agents often seek to exploit this vulnerability, rather than exploiting the communicated information itself. Motivated by this problem, the objective of this research is to investigate alternative coordination strategies of multi-agent systems that reduce information exchange and maximize task efficiency.
We consider the task of a multi-agent system of autonomous agents, such as a team of vehicles, performing a reconnaissance mission in an unknown, hostile, and urban environment. We abstract this task by considering a two-agent system exploring an unknown and structured maze. The goal of the agents is to search all states in the maze while minimizing communication and maximizing search efficiency.
Our results demonstrate that through restricting communication to line-of-sight, exploiting the structure of the environment, and employing deterministic decision-making policies, information exchange can be reduced while preserving a high degree of efficiency in the coordination of autonomous agents.
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Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada
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This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
CC0 1.0 Universal
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
CC0 1.0 Universal