Genetic algorithm based combinatorial auction method for multi-robot task allocation

An improved genetic algorithm is proposed to solve the problem of bad real-time performance or inability to get a global optimal/better solution when applying single-item auction (SIA) method or combinatorial auction method to multi-robot task allocation. The genetic algorithm based combinatorial auction (GACA) method which combines the basic-genetic algorithm with a new concept of ringed chromosome is used to solve the winner determination problem (WDP) of combinatorial auction. The simulation experiments are conducted in OpenSim, a multi-robot simulator. The results show that GACA can get a satisfying solution in a reasonable shot time, and compared with SIA or parthenogenesis algorithm combinatorial auction (PGACA) method, it is the simplest and has higher search efficiency, also, GACA can get a global better/optimal solution and satisfy the high real-time requirement of multi-robot task allocation.