Date of Award
5-1-2025
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Computer Science
First Advisor
Hexmoor, Henry
Abstract
Jayaram Majeti, for the Master of Science degree in Computer Science, presented on March 31, 2025, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.TITLE: AI-ENHANCED DECENTRALIZED TASK ALLOCATION USING BLOCKCHAIN IN MULTI-ROBOT SYSTEMS MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Henry Hexmoor Multi-robot systems (MRS) are increasingly being deployed in dynamic environments such as disaster response, industrial automation, and autonomous transportation. Efficient task allocation is crucial for these systems to operate effectively. Traditional centralized task allocation methods suffer from single points of failure, limited scalability, and lack adaptability to changing environments. To address these limitations, this thesis proposes a decentralized AI-enhanced task allocation system using blockchain for secure coordination and reinforcement learning (RL) for adaptive bidding mechanisms. The proposed system leverages blockchain technology to ensure transparency, security, and decentralization, eliminating dependency on a single control entity. Simultaneously, reinforcement learning allows robots to learn from past allocations, improving task distribution efficiency over time. This hybrid approach enhances resilience, scalability, and adaptability in real-time applications. This thesis presents the system architecture, theoretical framework, and discusses future research directions in AI-driven decentralized task allocation.
Access
This thesis is only available for download to the SIUC community. Current SIUC affiliates may also access this paper off campus by searching Dissertations & Theses @ Southern Illinois University Carbondale from ProQuest. Others should contact the interlibrary loan department of your local library or contact ProQuest's Dissertation Express service.