Systems such as autonomous oceanographic sampling networks (AOSNs) that have multiple autonomous or semi-autonomous components must have an organization which specifies the interactions between the components to allow them to distribute and accomplish the system's tasks. AOSNs present a special challenge. They will be deployed for long periods of time, and they are open systems whose composition will change over time. Such systems require the ability to autonomously organize and reorganize in response to changes in its composition, the environment, or the mission.
In this paper, we present preliminary results from a project whose goal is to develop mechanisms to allow AOSNs to self-organize and reorganize. We discuss characteristics of AOSNs which impact their organization and give an overview of an approach which addresses their special requirements. We discuss a simulation methodology designed to simulate the aggregate properties of the protocols developed, and we describe preliminary results obtained using that simulator.
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