Cooperative task allocation method for multi‐unmanned aerial vehicles based on the modified genetic algorithm

Abstract Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) play a crucial role in various domains such as military, civil, industrial, and so on. However, the coordination and task allocation of multiple UAVs in engineering practices face numerous challenges. As the scale of battlefields expands, and the diversity of UAV missions and constraints increases, the existing task allocation methods suffer from issues such as a mismatch between theoretical models and real‐world applications, low task execution efficiency, and poor responsiveness in dynamic environments. To address these challenges, this paper proposes an improved genetic algorithm (GA)‐based approach for multi‐UAV cooperative task allocation. By collecting battlefield information, decomposing tasks, and considering UAV resource types, an optimization model for multi‐UAV cooperative task allocation is constructed. The proposed method, using an improved GA, generates a set of Pareto‐optimal task solutions for decision‐makers. Case studies demonstrate that this approach effectively enhances task execution efficiency and reduces the total flight distance cost of UAVs.