Pursuit–Evasion Strategies in Multi-Agent Robotic Systems: Analytical, Learning-Based, and Evolutionary Perspectives

In studies of intelligent agents, the pursuit–evasion problem, commonly related to the predator–prey paradigm, has been used as a reference setting for examining decision-making, coordination, and adaptation in multi-agent systems. In this paper, pursuit and evasion strategies are reviewed from their theoretical foundations to the gradual incorporation of adaptive methods based on evolutionary algorithms and machine learning. Analytical formulations drawn from control theory, game theory, and graph-based models are considered together with learning-oriented methods, including multi-agent reinforcement learning, neuroevolution, evolutionary robotics, and competitive coevolution. The literature is arranged by methodological paradigm so that the scope, limitations, and applicability of each approach can be discussed in relation to dynamic and uncertain environments. Through this organization, classical models, algorithmic developments, and recent research trends are brought into the same discussion, while relevant gaps and possible future directions in pursuit–evasion research are identified. The contribution of this work is a structured synthesis in which analytical and adaptive perspectives are brought together within a unified reference for researchers and practitioners in robotics, artificial intelligence, and multi-agent systems.