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Search and rescue in the face of uncertain threats

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  • Lidbetter, Thomas

Abstract

We consider a search problem in which one or more targets must be rescued by a search party, or Searcher. The targets may be survivors of some natural disaster, or prisoners held by an adversary. The targets are hidden among a finite set of locations, but when a location is searched, there is a known probability that the search will come to an end, perhaps because the Searcher becomes trapped herself, or is captured by the adversary. If this happens before all the targets have been recovered, then the rescue attempt is deemed a failure. The objective is to find the search that maximizes the probability of recovering all the targets. We present and solve a game theoretic model for this problem, by placing it in a more general framework that encompasses another game previously introduced by the author. We also consider an extension to the game in which the targets are hidden on the vertices of a graph. In the case that there is only one target, we give a solution of the game played on a tree.

Suggested Citation

  • Lidbetter, Thomas, 2020. "Search and rescue in the face of uncertain threats," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 285(3), pages 1153-1160.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:285:y:2020:i:3:p:1153-1160
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2020.02.029
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Hellerstein, Lisa & Lidbetter, Thomas, 2023. "A game theoretic approach to a problem in polymatroid maximization," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 305(2), pages 979-988.
    2. Leone, Pierre & Buwaya, Julia & Alpern, Steve, 2022. "Search-and-rescue rendezvous," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 297(2), pages 579-591.
    3. Duvocelle, Benoit & Flesch, János & Staudigl, Mathias & Vermeulen, Dries, 2022. "A competitive search game with a moving target," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 303(2), pages 945-957.
    4. Agnetis, Alessandro & Hermans, Ben & Leus, Roel & Rostami, Salim, 2022. "Time-critical testing and search problems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 296(2), pages 440-452.

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