Sensor network activation with a fuzzy-based game theory

A game theoretic technique is applied to the operations of a battery-powered sensor network with costs and rewards generated using fuzzy logic. The case of wanting to preserve battery power in a situation where forest is being protected is used as an example. The concept of fuzzy logic is used to adapt the penalty and rewards, and provides an ability to model the system that is too complex for first principle models. In this first phase of the program, the approach uses game theory for the operational decision process. The initial system development is based on simulation of a sensor network in a constrained fusion problem of a road network with multi-sensor platforms. Application of the technique allows for consideration of the consumption of power of different available sensors, the importance of the measurements being gathered to the tracking and classification systems, effectiveness of the sensors, and redundancy of the sensor coverage. Fuzzy logic is used to generate the scores for each of the elements in the cost functions used by the game to determine the next action. The resulting analysis indicates that the integrated solution maintains tracking and classification of the targets of interest and reduces power consumption.