Modelling and analysis of information-based target searching using mobile sensors

Target searching is widely accepted as a significant area of study by various research communities. This paper addresses four target searching scenarios in a two-dimensional grid with obstacles, where multiple mobile sensors aim to search a single mobile target in a minimal time. The reachability condition of the target is checked before modelling the problem. The proposed work classifies the scenarios based on information-set available to the mobile sensors and the target. The scenarios are modelled as games that involve two adversary players: mobile sensor and target. The search strategies for the mobile sensors are formulated under different circumstances, and the strategic differences between cooperative and non-cooperative strategies are analysed. Later, the proposed work is extended in a new dimension, where information gain for the mobile sensors is determined by information refreshment interval. The proposed work helps the decision makers by facilitating the search operation in different scenarios.