Monte Carlo Tree Search Satellite Scheduling Under Cloud Cover Uncertainty

Abstract: Efficient utilization of satellite resources in dynamic environments remains a challenging problem in satellite scheduling. This paper addresses the multi-satellite collection scheduling problem (m-SatCSP), aiming to optimize task scheduling over a constellation of satellites under uncertain conditions such as cloud cover. Leveraging Monte Carlo Tree Search (MCTS), a stochastic search algorithm, two versions of MCTS are explored to schedule satellites effectively. Hyperparameter tuning is conducted to optimize the algorithm's performance. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the MCTS approach, outperforming existing methods in both solution quality and efficiency. Comparative analysis against other scheduling algorithms showcases competitive performance, positioning MCTS as a promising solution for satellite task scheduling in dynamic environments.