Monte-Carlo-based partially observable Markov decision process approximations for adaptive sensing

Adaptive sensing involves actively managing sensor resources to achieve a sensing task, such as object detection, classification, and tracking, and represents a promising direction for new applications of discrete event system methods. We describe an approach to adaptive sensing based on approximately solving a partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP) formulation of the problem. Such approximations are necessary because of the very large state space involved in practical adaptive sensing problems, precluding exact computation of optimal solutions. We review the theory of POMDPs and show how the theory applies to adaptive sensing problems. We then describe Monte-Carlo-based approximation methods, with an example to illustrate their application in adaptive sensing. The example also demonstrates the gains that are possible from nonmyopic methods relative to myopic methods.