SCHEDULING ROBOTIC ACTIONS BY GENETIC ALGORITHMS

A hybrid genetic algorithm is used to schedule tasks for a satellite t hat can be modeled as a robot whose goal is to retrieve objects from a two-dimensional field. The objective is to find a schedule that maxim izes the value of objects retrieved. Typical of the real-world tasks t o which this corresponds is the scheduling of ground contacts for a co mmunications satellite. An important feature of our application is tha t the amount of time available for running the scheduler is not necess arily known in advance. This requires that the scheduler produce reaso nably good results after a short period, but that it also continue to improve its results if allowed to run for a longer period. We satisfy this requirement by developing what we call a sustainable genetic algo rithm.