Papers for

wireless sensor network operators

Papers whose findings have a practical use for this group, as judged from the abstract. Open a paper to read what it means in practice.

Robust model training improves worst-case results in networked teams

Group Distributionally Robust Optimization over Decentralized Networks

Abstract: We study group distributionally robust optimization (GDRO) over decentralized networks, where workers collaborate to learn robust models by minimizing the maximum local risk. Existing methods optimize only dual-regularized surrogates and establish guarantees for a globally averaged model that is not available to workers. In this paper, we directly optimize the original GDRO objective and establish guarantees for local models in semi-decentralized (SemiDec) and fully decentralized (Dec) settings. A key difficulty is that applying the primal-dual decomposition from centralized GDRO yields worker-dependent losses whose evaluation requires unavailable cross-worker information. To address this challenge, we develop a novel error decomposition that recasts decentralized GDRO as (i) a decentralized online convex optimization (D-OCO) problem and a prediction-with-expert-advice problem in SemiDec, and as (ii) two coupled D-OCO problems in Dec, with discrepancy terms capturing inconsistencies among local decisions. By isolating consensus errors in analysis, we develop modular frameworks that support different consensus routines. We then establish the \emph{first} per-worker convergence guarantees for optimizing the original GDRO objective over decentralized networks. Instantiations with accelerated gossip and Choco-gossip achieve an $O(\sqrt{(\log m)/T})$ convergence rate over $T$ update rounds, while experiments demonstrate improved worst-worker performance over baselines.

Wed 21 OctMachine Learning
The gist
When many computers work together to train a model, it's hard to make sure the model works well for everyone, especially the user with the toughest data. The authors found a way to improve this by letting each computer directly optimize a shared fairness goal, even when they don't have full information about others. They created new math tools to do this in both partly connected and fully connected networks. Their approach speeds up learning and makes the worst-case performance better than older methods.
Open → 2610.29261v1

Multi-charger scheduling improves sensor network survival by 20 percent

HQARRF: Hierarchical Q-learning and Force-aware Routing for Multi-Charger Scheduling in Wireless Rechargeable Sensor Networks

Abstract: Multi-charger scheduling in wireless rechargeable sensor networks must weigh sensor death risk, charger energy, travel cost, return-to-base feasibility and inter-charger coordination at once, and schedulers driven by local urgency alone duplicate service and leave whole regions unattended. We present HQARRF, a two-level scheduler. Below, an interpretable ARR-F score ranks candidate clusters through an attraction term for local urgency, a repulsion term against charger crowding and a force bonus from nearby critical sensors. Above, adaptive zones compress regional state into a deadline-based risk estimate, and a gated Q-learning controller decides only whether to redirect service to a high-risk, under-served zone. Over 27 parameter points HQARRF attains the highest mean survival rate at 26, improving survival by 20.7 percentage points over the mean of five baselines and 9.2 over the strongest baseline at each point. An ablation isolates the upper level: its gain tracks how often the controller fires.

Sat 12 SeptNetworking and Internet ArchitectureMachine Learning
The gist
Wireless sensor networks need to be recharged regularly to keep working, but planning how multiple chargers visit sensors is complicated. The authors introduce HQARRF, a two-level scheduling system that balances urgency, charger energy, travel costs, and coordination. Their approach improves network survival rates significantly compared to other methods by smartly deciding where and when to send chargers. This helps avoid unattended areas and over-servicing, enhancing overall uptime.
Open → 2609.13901v1