# Reinforcement Learning for Cognitive Delay/Disruption Tolerant Network Node Management in an LEO-based Satellite Constellation

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2209.13237 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2209.13237/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 3 of its 20 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 27 Sep 2022.

## Builds on (most cited first, 3 of 3)

- [Asynchronous Methods for Deep Reinforcement Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1602.01783/) (2016)
- [Applications of Deep Reinforcement Learning in Communications and Networking: A Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1810.07862/) (2018)
- [Satellite Communications in the New Space Era: A Survey and Future Challenges](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2002.08811/) (2020)

## Abstract (arXiv)

In recent years, with the large-scale deployment of space spacecraft entities and the increase of satellite onboard capabilities, delay/disruption tolerant network (DTN) emerged as a more robust communication protocol than TCP/IP in the case of excessive network dynamics. DTN node buffer management is still an active area of research, as the current implementation of the DTN core protocol still relies on the assumption that there is always enough memory available in different network nodes to store and forward bundles. In addition, the classical queuing theory does not apply to the dynamic management of DTN node buffers. Therefore, this paper proposes a centralized approach to automatically manage cognitive DTN nodes in low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation scenarios based on the advanced reinforcement learning (RL) strategy advantage actor-critic (A2C). The method aims to explore training a geosynchronous earth orbit intelligent agent to manage all DTN nodes in an LEO satellite constellation scenario. The goal of the A2C agent is to maximize delivery success rate and minimize network resource consumption cost while considering node memory utilization. The intelligent agent can dynamically adjust the radio data rate and perform drop operations based on bundle priority. In order to measure the effectiveness of applying A2C technology to DTN node management issues in LEO satellite constellation scenarios, this paper compares the trained intelligent agent strategy with the other two non-RL policies, including random and standard policies. Experiments show that the A2C strategy balances delivery success rate and cost, and provides the highest reward and the lowest node memory utilization.