An Algorithm for Simultaneous Coalition Structure Generation and Task Assignment

• Groups of agents in multi-agent systems may have to cooperate to solve tasks efficiently, and coordinating such groups is an important problem in the field of artificial intelligence. In this paper, we consider the problem of forming disjoint coalitions and assigning them to independent tasks simultaneously, and present an anytime algorithm that efficiently solves the simultaneous coalition structure generation and task assignment problem. This NP-complete combinatorial optimization problem has many real-world applications, including forming cross-functional teams aimed at solving tasks. To evaluate the algorithm's performance, we extend established methods for synthetic problem set generation, and benchmark the algorithm using randomized data sets of varying distribution and complexity. Our results show that the presented algorithm efficiently finds optimal solutions, and generates high quality solutions when interrupted prior to finishing an exhaustive search. Additionally, we apply the algorithm to solve the problem of assigning agents to regions in a commercial computer-based strategy game, and empirically show that our algorithm can significantly improve the coordination and computational efficiency of agents in a real-time multi-agent system.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Data- och informationsvetenskap -- Datavetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Computer and Information Sciences -- Computer Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

coalition formation

task allocation

multi-agent system

artificial intelligence

optimal assignment

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)