Distributed constraint optimisation for resource limited sensor networks

This paper addresses the problem of self-organisation and coordination within Wireless Sensor Networks. It advocates the use of a multi-agent system and specifically the use of multi-agent distributed constraint optimisation algorithms. Developing agent-based software for low powered sensing devices introduces several problems to be addressed; the most obvious being the limited computational and energy resources available. This paper details the Constrained Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) implementation of two pre-existing algorithms for distributed constraint optimisation, namely Adopt and the Max-Sum algorithm. We discuss (1) a novel algorithm for bounded function mergers that reduces the communication overhead and the number of cycles in the factor graph of the Max-Sum algorithm and (2) how the footprint of Adopt has been reduced from the reference implementation. This work is evaluated through the use of the canonical multi-agent coordination problem, namely graph colouring.

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