Task assignment in wireless sensor and robot networks

Wireless sensor and robot networks (WSRNs) are the confluence point where the two traditional fields of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and multi-robot systems meet. This article considers application of networked robots to manage and improve functionality of sensor networks, in tasks such as sensor network deployment and maintenance, and response to events detected by sensors. Most of the papers in the field of networked robotics deal with generic problem statements with heavy assumptions when it comes to task assignment problems. Literature still lacks solutions for concrete task assignment scenarios when communication cost is not negligible and communication protocols are unclear. In this article we focus on task assignment problem in WSRNs starting from the simplest single event scenarios to complex multiple event scenarios and review possible solutions and current research challenges within two classes of task assignment problems - with or without communication costs.