Distributed Task Allocation for Multi-Agent Systems: A Submodular Optimization Approach

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Authors: Jing Liu, Fangfei Li, Xin Jin, Yang Tang
Cited by: 1
References: 47

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