Distributed Task Allocation for Multi-Agent Systems: A Submodular Optimization Approach
Abstract
This paper addresses dynamic task allocation in resource-constrained multi-agent systems (MASs) with sequentially updated assignments. We develop a submodular maximization framework integrated with$q$-independence systems, demonstrating greater flexibility than conventional matroid-based constraints for modeling heterogeneous resource limitations. The proposed distributed greedy bundles algorithm (DGBA) addresses communication limitations in MASs while providing rigorous approximation guarantees for submodular maximization under a$q$-independence system constraint, ensuring low computational complexity. DGBA achieves feasible task allocation in polynomial time with reduced space complexity compared to existing methods. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations in a micro-satellite observation scenario demonstrate that DGBA consistently outperforms benchmark algorithms in total utility, resource efficiency, and assignment stability, while maintaining real-time computational feasibility.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Optimization and Search Problems
Scheduling and Optimization Algorithms
Mobile Agent-Based Network Management
Publication details
- Journal / source
- IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control
- Publisher
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
- Volume
- 71
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1–8
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN