In this paper we use a generalization of the Voronoi partition to formulate
and solve a heterogeneous distributed locational optimization problem for
autonomous agents having limited range sensors. Agents equipped with sensors
having heterogeneity in their capabilities, communication equipment, and
computational capability are to be optimally deployed in a domain of interest.
The optimal deployment is found to be a variation of the generalized centroidal
Voronoi configuration, where the sensors are located at the centroids of the
corresponding generalized Voronoi cells.
In this paper we propose search strategies for heterogeneous multi-agent
systems. Multiple agents, equipped with communication gadget, computational
capability, and sensors having heterogeneous capabilities, are deployed in the
search space to gather information such as presence of targets. Lack of
information about the search space is modeled as an uncertainty density
distribution. The uncertainty is reduced on collection of information by the
search agents.