To evaluate the presented algorithm’s performance, we present five methods for synthetic problem set generation, and benchmark the algorithm against the industry-grade solver CPLEX using randomized data sets of varying distribution and complexity. This combinatorial optimization problem has many real-world applications, including forming goal-oriented teams. With this in mind, we consider simultaneously generating coalitions of agents and assigning the coalitions to independent alternatives (e.g., tasks/goals), and present an anytime algorithm for the simultaneous coalition structure generation and assignment problem. In cooperative settings, where coordination of multiple coalitions is important, this may generate suboptimal teams for achieving and accomplishing the tasks and goals at hand. However, coalition structure generation typically has no notion of goals. Coalition formation often involves finding a coalition structure (an exhaustive set of disjoint coalitions) that maximizes the system’s potential performance (e.g., social welfare) through coalition structure generation. Central to this endeavor is coalition formation-the process by which heterogeneous agents organize and form disjoint groups (coalitions). Coordinating agents in a multi-agent system can significantly affect the system’s performance-the agents can, in many instances, be organized so that they can solve tasks more efficiently, and consequently benefit collectively and individually.

An important research problem in artificial intelligence is how to organize multiple agents, and coordinate them, so that they can work together to solve problems.

Coalition europa universalis 5