Method and apparatus for terrain reasoning with distributed embedded processing elements
US6580979B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 10, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jun 17, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 10, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D1/0257
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for computing properties of a physical environment is provided, using a plurality of agents forming a distributed network embedded within the environment. The method comprises determining an initiating agent 200, transmitting a signal including a cumulative cost value to neighboring agents 202, and processing the signal at each neighboring agent to augment the cumulative cost value with local information 204. If multiple signals are received, determining which has the best cumulative cost value for generating a new signal 206, then treating the neighboring agent as an initiating agent 208 and transmitting the new signal to neighboring agents 208 and retaining the best augmented cost value in memory 210. Methods further include determining paths using shortest path computations, using dual gradients for aligning agents on a path between two reference agents, and discovering and converging agents on choke points.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.