Modelling and simulation of complex systems: an approach based on multi-level agents

A complex system is made up of many components with many interactions. So the design of systems such as simulation systems, cooperative systems or assistance systems includes a very accurate modelling of interactional and communicational levels. The agent-based approach provides an adapted abstraction level for this problem. After having studied the organizational context and communicative capacities of agentbased systems, to simulate the reorganization of a flexible manufacturing, to regulate an urban transport system, and to simulate an epidemic detection system, our thoughts on the interactional level were inspired by human-machine interface models, especially those in "cognitive engineering". To provide a general framework for agent-based complex systems modelling, we then proposed a scale of four behaviours that agents may adopt in their complex systems (reactive, routine, cognitive, and collective). To complete the description of multi-level agent models, which is the focus of this paper, we illustrate our modelling and discuss our ongoing work on each level.Comment: 10 pages; IJCSI International Journal of Computer Science Issues, Vol. 8, Issue 6, No 1, November 201

A Computational Framework for Human/Agent Communication Using Argumentation, Implicit Information, and Social Influence

In this paper, we propose a new computational framework for human/agent communication. The main objective is to allow software agents to participate in flexible communications with human and to be efficient in these communications. To be flexible and efficient, artificial agents in our model are able to: 1) deal with the implicit aspects of conversations by considering the non literal level of speech acts; 2) reason on their internal states and on the conversation state using argumentation abilities; and 3) manage the social influence. Our framework is based on the philosophical foundations provided by speech act theory, argumentation theory, and social commitments. 1