Solving partially observable agent-intruder games with an application to border security problems

In this paper, we introduce partially observable agent-intruder games (POAIGs). These games model dynamic search games on graphs between security forces (an agent) and an intruder given possible (border) entry points and high value assets that require protection. The agent faces situations with dynamically changing, partially observable...

Optimal deployment for anti-submarine operations with time-dependent strategies

In this paper, we consider the optimal deployment of multiple assets in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations with time-dependent strategies. We model this as a zero-sum game that takes place over a finite time horizon. An agent, representing multiple assets, in an ASW operation, decides on the allocation of these assets (e.g., one or more...

Security Games with Restricted Strategies: An Approximate Dynamic Programming Approach

In this chapter we consider a security game between an agent and an intruder to find optimal strategies for patrolling against illegal fishery. When patrolling large areas that consist of multiple cells, several aspects have to be taken into account. First, the current risk of the cells has to be considered such that cells with high risk are...

Security Games with Probabilistic Constraints on the Agent’s Strategy

This paper considers a special case of security games dealing with the protection of a large area divided in multiple cells for a given planning period. An intruder decides on which cell to attack and an agent selects a patrol route visiting multiple cells from a finite set of patrol routes such that some given operational conditions on the...

Security Games with Probabilistic Constraints on the Agent’s Strategy

This paper considers a special case of security games dealing with the protection of a large area divided in multiple cells for a given planning period. An intruder decides on which cell to attack and an agent selects a patrol route visiting multiple cells from a finite set of patrol routes such that some given operational conditions on the...

UAV Mission Planning: From Robust to Agile

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are important assets for information gathering in Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. Depending on the uncertainty in the planning parameters, the complexity of the mission and its constraints and requirements, different planning methods might be preferred. The first two planning...

A Two-Stage Approach to the Orienteering Problem with Stochastic Weights

The Orienteering Problem (OP) is a routing problem which has many interesting applications in logistics, tourism and defense. The aim of the OP is to find a maximum profit path or tour, which is feasible with respect to a capacity constraint on the total weight of the selected arcs. In this paper we consider the Orienteering Problem with...

Robust UAV Mission Planning

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) can provide significant contributions to information gathering in military missions. UAVs can be used to capture both full motion video and still imagery of specific target locations within the area of interest. In order to improve the effectiveness of a reconnaissance mission, it is important to visit the largest...

Online stochastic UAV mission planning with time windows and time-sensitive targets

In this paper we simultaneously consider three extensions to the standard Orienteering Problem (OP) to model characteristics that are of practical relevance in planning reconnaissance missions of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). First, travel and recording times are uncertain. Secondly, the information about each target can only be obtained...

Online UAV Mission Planning

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have become an essential asset for military and law enforcement operations. In particular their use for surveillance and reconnaissance tasks has been growing due to the quick developments in the areal systems themselves, sensor technology, and image processing techniques that enable near-realtime acquisition of...

The Cooperative Ballistic Missile Defence Game

The increasing proliferation of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction poses new risks worldwide. For a threatened nation and given the characteristics of this threat a layered ballistic missile defence system strategy appears to be the preferred solution. However, such a strategy involves negotiations with other nations concerning...

The Orienteering Problem under Uncertainty Stochastic Programming and Robust Optimization compared

The Orienteering Problem (OP) is a generalization of the well-known traveling salesman problem and has many interesting applications in logistics, tourism and defense. To reflect real-life situations, we focus on an uncertain variant of the OP. Two main approaches that deal with optimization under uncertainty are stochastic programming and...

Analysing and modelling the interconnected cyber space

The security environment is rapidly changing. Due to increasing dependency on complex critical communication and information systems, society as a whole, but defence organisations in particular, have to rethink, redesign and adapt their Defences to be able to confront the challenges of cyberwarfare and crime. The literature abounds with examples...

A robust approach to the missile defence location problem

This paper proposes a model for determining a robust defence strategy against ballistic missile threat. Our approach takes into account a variety of possible future scenarios and different forms of robustness criteria, including the well-known absolute robustness criterion. We consider two problem variants. In the first, the number of ballistic...

Robust UAV mission planning

Unmanned Areal Vehicles (UAVs) can provide significant contributions to information gathering in military missions. UAVs can be used to capture both full motion video and still imagery of specific target locations within the area of interest. In order to improve the effectiveness of a reconnaissance mission, it is important to visit the largest...

Operationele Analyse: Science at the frontline

De rol van een militair operationeel analist is het effectief communiceren van zijn of haar wetenschappelijk onderbouwde inzichten, adviezen en evaluaties voor de optimale inzet van militaire systemen en technologie. Operationele Analyse (OA) heeft haar nut bewezen bij verschillende operaties in de Tweede Wereldoorlog en daarna. OA heeft zich...

Robust UAV Mission Planning

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) can provide significant contributions to information gathering in military missions. UAVs can be used to capture both full motion video and still imagery of specific target locations within the area of interest. In order to improve the effectiveness of a reconnaissance mission, it is important to visit the largest...