NeTS: Medium: Collaborative Research: Shaping, Learning and Optimizing Dynamic Networks

这个项目开发，从地面上，一个新的理论框架，分析和设计算法的动态ad-hoc无线网络。这一建议将网络动态视为一个可以利用的机会，而不是一个需要克服的逆境。该方法是基于四个相互关联的推力：1。增量拓扑学习：使用稀疏的“错误图”表示，跟踪网络中的变化比重新学习整个拓扑结构更有效。2.拓扑和流量整形：控制“有效的”无线网络拓扑，使得（i）在任何时刻，它看起来与调度算法高度断开，但随着时间的推移保持全局连接;以及（ii）修改业务统计以确保统计空间相关性衰减。热启动分布式算法：消息传递算法，可以根据过去的解决方案的本地知识进行热启动优化。4. Proteus -一个移动的机器人测试平台：该项目通过在一个名为Proteus的移动的机器人测试平台上实现来验证其方法，该平台用于在实际环境中优化算法。更广泛的影响：通过UT的WNCG附属项目，行业从一开始就参与了这项研究。 研究将通过顶级场所的出版物，行业互动和专门组织的研讨会进行传播。研究生和本科生都通过UT的REU项目（重点是招募女性和少数民族）接触到现实世界的无线网络（通过测试平台）和前沿理论。

This project develops, from the ground up, a new theoretical framework for analyzing and designing algorithms for dynamic ad-hoc wireless networks. This proposal embraces network dynamics as an opportunity to be exploited, not an adversity to be overcome. The approach is based on four inter-related thrusts:1. Incremental Topology Learning: Tracking changes in the network much more efficiently than re-learning entire topology, using sparse "error graph" representations.2. Topology and Traffic Shaping: Controlling the "effective" wireless network topology so that (i) at any instant of time it appears to be highly disconnected to scheduling algorithms, but retains global connectivity over time; and (ii) modifying traffic statistics to ensure statistical spatial correlation decay.3. Warm-starting Distributed Algorithms: Message-passing algorithms that can warm-start the optimization based on local knowledge of past solutions.4. Proteus - A Mobile Robot Testbed: This project validates its approach via implementation on a mobile robot testbed called Proteus, which is used to optimize algorithms in a practical setting.Broader Impact: Industry is involved in this research from the start, via the WNCG Affiliates program at UT. The research will be disseminated via publications in top-tier venues, industry interactions, and specially organized workshops. Both graduate students and undergraduate students, via a REU program at UT (with emphasis on recruiting women and minorities), get exposure to both real-world wireless networks (via the testbed), and cutting edge theory.