Moving target search optimization – A literature review

• Published in: Computers & operations research Vol. 105; pp. 132 - 140
• Main Authors: Raap, Manon, Preuß, Michael, Meyer-Nieberg, Silja
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2019; Pergamon Press Inc
• Subjects: Algorithms; Identification methods; Kinematics; Kinematics-constrained search; Literature reviews; Operations research; Optimization; Path-constrained search; Search and rescue missions; Search theory; Kinematics-constrained search; Search theory; Path-constrained search; Optimization
• ISSN: 0305-0548; 1873-765X; 0305-0548
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cor.2019.01.004

The path-constrained moving target search problem has been subject to research since 1979 and is still investigated due to its important application, namely: search missions. This review paper provides an overview of the two main research branches. We cover approaches for path-constrained searchers, as well as approaches for kinematics-constrained searchers such as aerial search platforms. Besides an extensive overview of the literature, an overview of properties that are typical for search optimization approaches is given. A tabular summary of the approaches and their properties is provided for easy comparison and efficient lookup of applicable methods. Finally, we identify a main research gap and propose a promising type of algorithm for efficiently solving moving target search optimization problems.