Embedded Evolutionary Robotics: The (1+1)-Restart-Online Adaptation Algorithm

International audienceThis paper deals with online onboard behavior optimization for an autonomous mobile robot in the scope of the European FP7 Symbrion Project. The work presented here extends the (1+1)-online algorithm introduced in earlier publication. This algorithm is a variation of a famous Evolution Strategies adapted to autonomous robots. In this paper, we address a limitation of this algorithm regarding the ability to perform global search whenever a local optimum is reached. A new implementation of the algorithm, termed (1+1)-restart-online algorithm, is described and implemented within the Symbrion robotic Cortex M3 microcontroller. Results from the experiments show that the new algorithm is able to escape local optima and, as a consequence, converge faster and provides a richer set of relevant controllers