A Perspective on Defining the Collective Adaptive Systems Problem

The Collective Adaptive Systems problem is particularly challenging when applied to resource allocation and resource coordination in wireless tactical networks. This paper attempts to characterize the problem in detail in an incremental manner, starting with the simplest version of the problem that includes many assumptions and then building up the complexity of the problem by removing the assumptions. The objective is for researchers to be able to understand the full complexity and subtleties of the problem and to provide a common language for discussing the problems, assumptions, and solutions.