{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4417252019","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1109/jiot.2025.3642563","title":"MECOS: Cooperative Multi-UAV-Assisted Cross-Boundary Maritime Data Collection Leveraging MARL and LLM","display_name":"MECOS: Cooperative Multi-UAV-Assisted Cross-Boundary Maritime Data Collection Leveraging MARL and LLM","publication_year":2025,"publication_date":"2025-12-11","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W4417252019","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1109/jiot.2025.3642563"},"language":null,"primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.1109/jiot.2025.3642563","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1109/jiot.2025.3642563","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S2480266640","display_name":"IEEE Internet of Things Journal","issn_l":"2327-4662","issn":["2327-4662","2372-2541"],"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310319808","host_organization_name":"Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310319808"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers"],"type":"journal"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"IEEE Internet of Things Journal","raw_type":"journal-article"},"type":"article","indexed_in":["crossref"],"open_access":{"is_oa":false,"oa_status":"closed","oa_url":null,"any_repository_has_fulltext":false},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5101652362","display_name":"Yang Zhao","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1329-9589"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I80143920","display_name":"Shandong University of Science and Technology","ror":"https://ror.org/04gtjhw98","country_code":"CN","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I80143920"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":true,"raw_author_name":"Yang Zhao","raw_affiliation_strings":["College of Computer Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"College of Computer Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I80143920"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5044870211","display_name":"Hanjiang Luo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6796-9658"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I80143920","display_name":"Shandong University of Science and Technology","ror":"https://ror.org/04gtjhw98","country_code":"CN","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I80143920"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Hanjiang Luo","raw_affiliation_strings":["College of Computer Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6796-9658","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"College of Computer Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I80143920"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":null,"display_name":"Hang Tao","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1285-968X"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I80143920","display_name":"Shandong University of Science and Technology","ror":"https://ror.org/04gtjhw98","country_code":"CN","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I80143920"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Hang Tao","raw_affiliation_strings":["College of Computer Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1285-968X","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"College of Computer Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I80143920"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5100426857","display_name":"Jingjing Wang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0657-8300"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I143413998","display_name":"Qingdao University of Science and Technology","ror":"https://ror.org/041j8js14","country_code":"CN","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I143413998"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Jingjing Wang","raw_affiliation_strings":["College of Information Science and Technology, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0657-8300","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"College of Information Science and Technology, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I143413998"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5072694505","display_name":"Jiehan Zhou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4026-1649"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I80143920","display_name":"Shandong University of Science and Technology","ror":"https://ror.org/04gtjhw98","country_code":"CN","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I80143920"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Jiehan Zhou","raw_affiliation_strings":["College of Computer Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4026-1649","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"College of Computer Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I80143920"]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5001188748","display_name":"Kaishun Wu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2216-0737"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I37987034","display_name":"Guangzhou University","ror":"https://ror.org/05ar8rn06","country_code":"CN","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I37987034"]},{"id":"https://openalex.org/I90610280","display_name":"South China University of Technology","ror":"https://ror.org/0530pts50","country_code":"CN","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I90610280"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Kaishun Wu","raw_affiliation_strings":["The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China","Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2216-0737","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China","institution_ids":[]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I90610280","https://openalex.org/I37987034"]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":1,"institutions_distinct_count":6,"corresponding_author_ids":["https://openalex.org/A5101652362"],"corresponding_institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I80143920"],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":0.0,"has_fulltext":false,"cited_by_count":0,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":0.46900744,"is_in_top_1_percent":false,"is_in_top_10_percent":false},"cited_by_percentile_year":null,"biblio":{"volume":"13","issue":"5","first_page":"8561","last_page":"8577"},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11133","display_name":"UAV Applications and Optimization","score":0.8952999711036682,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2202","display_name":"Aerospace Engineering"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/22","display_name":"Engineering"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11133","display_name":"UAV Applications and Optimization","score":0.8952999711036682,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2202","display_name":"Aerospace Engineering"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/22","display_name":"Engineering"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11192","display_name":"Underwater Vehicles and Communication Systems","score":0.02280000038444996,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2212","display_name":"Ocean Engineering"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/22","display_name":"Engineering"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10273","display_name":"IoT and Edge/Fog Computing","score":0.021299999207258224,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1705","display_name":"Computer Networks and Communications"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/leverage","display_name":"Leverage (statistics)","score":0.6725999712944031},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/data-collection","display_name":"Data collection","score":0.5963000059127808},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/reinforcement-learning","display_name":"Reinforcement learning","score":0.48510000109672546},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/load-balancing","display_name":"Load balancing (electrical power)","score":0.4805000126361847},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/motion-planning","display_name":"Motion planning","score":0.45829999446868896},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/external-data-representation","display_name":"External Data Representation","score":0.36579999327659607},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/data-modeling","display_name":"Data modeling","score":0.35740000009536743},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/remotely-operated-underwater-vehicle","display_name":"Remotely operated underwater vehicle","score":0.33730000257492065},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/wireless","display_name":"Wireless","score":0.3334999978542328}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41008148","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198","display_name":"Computer science","level":0,"score":0.7839000225067139},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C153083717","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6535263","display_name":"Leverage (statistics)","level":2,"score":0.6725999712944031},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C133462117","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4929239","display_name":"Data collection","level":2,"score":0.5963000059127808},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C120314980","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q180634","display_name":"Distributed computing","level":1,"score":0.569599986076355},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C97541855","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q830687","display_name":"Reinforcement learning","level":2,"score":0.48510000109672546},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C138959212","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1806783","display_name":"Load balancing (electrical power)","level":3,"score":0.4805000126361847},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C81074085","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q366872","display_name":"Motion planning","level":3,"score":0.45829999446868896},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C79403827","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3988","display_name":"Real-time computing","level":1,"score":0.40529999136924744},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C116409475","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1385056","display_name":"External Data Representation","level":2,"score":0.36579999327659607},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C67186912","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q367664","display_name":"Data modeling","level":2,"score":0.35740000009536743},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C145424490","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q618465","display_name":"Remotely operated underwater vehicle","level":4,"score":0.33730000257492065},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C555944384","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q249","display_name":"Wireless","level":2,"score":0.3334999978542328},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778456923","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5337692","display_name":"Edge computing","level":3,"score":0.33239999413490295},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C138827492","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6661985","display_name":"Data processing","level":2,"score":0.30709999799728394},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2989549987","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q350882","display_name":"Route planning","level":2,"score":0.3003000020980835},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C98025372","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q477538","display_name":"Systems architecture","level":3,"score":0.29179999232292175},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C19966478","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4810574","display_name":"Mobile robot","level":3,"score":0.28610000014305115},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2781395549","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4680762","display_name":"Adaptive sampling","level":3,"score":0.2856999933719635},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C144543869","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2738570","display_name":"Mobile computing","level":2,"score":0.28119999170303345},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C95491727","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q992968","display_name":"Mobile telephony","level":3,"score":0.2777000069618225},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C123657996","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12271","display_name":"Architecture","level":2,"score":0.27480000257492065},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C93996380","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q44127","display_name":"Server","level":2,"score":0.27239999175071716},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C108037233","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11375","display_name":"Wireless network","level":3,"score":0.26910001039505005},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C98083399","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3246517","display_name":"Underwater","level":2,"score":0.26660001277923584},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C162319229","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q175263","display_name":"Data structure","level":2,"score":0.2644999921321869},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C106516650","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8366","display_name":"Algorithm design","level":2,"score":0.2567000091075897},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778464652","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q309849","display_name":"Open research","level":2,"score":0.25450000166893005},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C31258907","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1301371","display_name":"Computer network","level":1,"score":0.2524999976158142},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778915421","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3643177","display_name":"Performance improvement","level":2,"score":0.2508000135421753}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":1,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.1109/jiot.2025.3642563","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1109/jiot.2025.3642563","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S2480266640","display_name":"IEEE Internet of Things Journal","issn_l":"2327-4662","issn":["2327-4662","2372-2541"],"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310319808","host_organization_name":"Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310319808"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers"],"type":"journal"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"IEEE Internet of Things Journal","raw_type":"journal-article"}],"best_oa_location":null,"sustainable_development_goals":[],"awards":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/G1305782184","display_name":null,"funder_award_id":"62072287","funder_id":"https://openalex.org/F4320321001","funder_display_name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China"},{"id":"https://openalex.org/G2272312918","display_name":null,"funder_award_id":"U24A20215","funder_id":"https://openalex.org/F4320321001","funder_display_name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China"},{"id":"https://openalex.org/G3193505660","display_name":null,"funder_award_id":"ZR2024MF024","funder_id":"https://openalex.org/F4320336925","funder_display_name":"Shandong Provincial Postdoctoral Science Foundation"},{"id":"https://openalex.org/G4070368874","display_name":null,"funder_award_id":"ZR2024MF024","funder_id":"https://openalex.org/F4320324174","funder_display_name":"Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province"}],"funders":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/F4320321001","display_name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","ror":"https://ror.org/01h0zpd94"},{"id":"https://openalex.org/F4320324174","display_name":"Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province","ror":null},{"id":"https://openalex.org/F4320336925","display_name":"Shandong Provincial Postdoctoral Science Foundation","ror":null}],"has_content":{"pdf":false,"grobid_xml":false},"content_urls":null,"referenced_works_count":46,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W2899842971","https://openalex.org/W2919575164","https://openalex.org/W3005478472","https://openalex.org/W3022291517","https://openalex.org/W3046336220","https://openalex.org/W3194030134","https://openalex.org/W3212225542","https://openalex.org/W3214748135","https://openalex.org/W4213313385","https://openalex.org/W4220747190","https://openalex.org/W4286748781","https://openalex.org/W4287890146","https://openalex.org/W4288048637","https://openalex.org/W4312699233","https://openalex.org/W4312811099","https://openalex.org/W4365129481","https://openalex.org/W4381162255","https://openalex.org/W4381735536","https://openalex.org/W4389633715","https://openalex.org/W4389961022","https://openalex.org/W4392904071","https://openalex.org/W4393763811","https://openalex.org/W4396877948","https://openalex.org/W4399154382","https://openalex.org/W4399527245","https://openalex.org/W4400275780","https://openalex.org/W4401326692","https://openalex.org/W4401453945","https://openalex.org/W4402474348","https://openalex.org/W4402661222","https://openalex.org/W4402716424","https://openalex.org/W4402811527","https://openalex.org/W4403390446","https://openalex.org/W4404307323","https://openalex.org/W4406414408","https://openalex.org/W4407237814","https://openalex.org/W4407398894","https://openalex.org/W4407693143","https://openalex.org/W4408323742","https://openalex.org/W4410491899","https://openalex.org/W4410771411","https://openalex.org/W4413274799","https://openalex.org/W4413823556","https://openalex.org/W4414116797","https://openalex.org/W4414798929","https://openalex.org/W7089247737"],"related_works":[],"abstract_inverted_index":{"The":[0,191,240],"direct":[1],"cross-boundary":[2],"communication":[3],"between":[4],"Unmanned":[5],"Aerial":[6],"Vehicles":[7,12],"(UAVs)":[8],"and":[9,35,39,58,102,168,186,204,210,236],"Autonomous":[10],"Underwater":[11],"(AUVs)":[13],"is":[14,123,242],"a":[15,66,87,116,161,170,221],"pivotal":[16],"component":[17],"in":[18,47,65,125,144],"establishing":[19],"the":[20,51,74,110,129,154,196,200,207],"6G":[21],"integrated":[22],"air-sea-space":[23],"network,":[24],"holding":[25],"significant":[26,233],"importance":[27],"for":[28,98,105,142,225],"applications":[29,227],"such":[30,228],"as":[31,229],"marine":[32],"data":[33,89,188,208,211],"collection":[34,90,209],"maritime":[36,78,88,215,230],"collaborative":[37],"search":[38],"rescue.":[40],"Nevertheless,":[41],"existing":[42],"solutions":[43],"exhibit":[44],"pronounced":[45],"deficiencies":[46],"path":[48,100,148],"planning":[49,101,149],"efficiency,":[50],"coverage":[52],"range":[53],"of":[54,69,76,133,214],"wireless":[55],"optical":[56],"communication,":[57],"edge":[59],"computing":[60],"load":[61,111,157,184],"balancing,":[62],"which":[63,94,126,177],"result":[64],"high":[67],"Age":[68],"Information":[70],"(AoI),":[71],"severely":[72],"compromising":[73],"performance":[75],"time-sensitive":[77],"missions.":[79],"To":[80],"address":[81],"these":[82],"challenges,":[83],"this":[84],"paper":[85],"proposes":[86],"scheme":[91,198],"called":[92],"MECOS,":[93],"includes":[95],"LMAR2P":[96],"algorithm":[97,104,175],"UAVs":[99,106],"MAPBal":[103],"to":[107,138,146,152,182],"deal":[108],"with":[109],"balancing":[112,174,185],"issue.":[113],"In":[114],"LMAR2P,":[115],"multi-agent":[117],"deep":[118],"reinforcement":[119],"learning":[120],"(MARL)":[121],"architecture":[122],"adopted,":[124],"we":[127,159],"leverage":[128],"global":[130],"understanding":[131],"capability":[132],"large":[134],"language":[135],"models":[136],"(LLMs)":[137],"provide":[139],"state":[140],"representation":[141],"MARL,":[143],"order":[145],"improve":[147],"efficiency.":[150],"Furthermore,":[151],"solve":[153],"unbalanced":[155],"computational":[156],"problem,":[158],"design":[160],"kullback-leibler":[162],"(KL)":[163],"divergence-based":[164],"reward":[165],"correction":[166],"mechanism":[167],"propose":[169],"distributed":[171],"adaptive":[172],"offloading":[173],"MAPBal,":[176],"enables":[178],"resource-aware":[179],"task":[180],"allocation":[181],"ensure":[183],"reduce":[187],"processing":[189,212],"latency.":[190],"simulation":[192],"results":[193],"indicate":[194],"that":[195],"MECOS":[197],"reduces":[199],"AoI":[201],"by":[202],"23.6%":[203],"26.4%":[205],"during":[206],"phases":[213],"missions,":[216],"respectively.":[217],"This":[218],"research":[219],"provides":[220],"viable":[222],"technical":[223],"solution":[224],"practical":[226],"monitoring,":[231],"demonstrating":[232],"scientific":[234],"value":[235],"promising":[237],"application":[238],"prospects.":[239],"code":[241],"available":[243],"at":[244],"https://github.com/SDUST-smartocean/MECOS.":[245]},"counts_by_year":[],"updated_date":"2026-03-27T05:58:40.876381","created_date":"2025-12-11T00:00:00"}
