228 research outputs found
Practical applications of multi-agent systems in electric power systems
The transformation of energy networks from passive to active systems requires the embedding of intelligence within the network. One suitable approach to integrating distributed intelligent systems is multi-agent systems technology, where components of functionality run as autonomous agents capable of interaction through messaging. This provides loose coupling between components that can benefit the complex systems envisioned for the smart grid. This paper reviews the key milestones of demonstrated agent systems in the power industry and considers which aspects of agent design must still be addressed for widespread application of agent technology to occur
Engineering Multi-Agent Systems: State of Affairs and the Road Ahead
The continuous integration of software-intensive systems together with the ever-increasing computing power offer a breeding ground for intelligent agents and multi-agent systems (MAS) more than ever before. Over the past two decades, a wide variety of languages, models, techniques and methodologies have been proposed to engineer agents and MAS. Despite this substantial body of knowledge and expertise, the systematic engineering of large-scale and open MAS still poses many challenges. Researchers and engineers still face fundamental questions regarding theories, architectures, languages, processes, and platforms for designing, implementing, running, maintaining, and evolving MAS. This paper reports on the results of the 6th International Workshop on Engineering Multi-Agent Systems (EMAS 2018, 14th-15th of July, 2018, Stockholm, Sweden), where participants discussed the issues above focusing on the state of affairs and the road ahead for researchers and engineers in this area
Interaction protocols for cross-organisational workflows
Workflow technologies are widely used in industry and commerce to assist in the specification, execution and completion of well defined processes within organisations. As industrial and commercial relations have evolved, based on advances on information and communications technologies, cross-organisational workflow integration has become an important issue. Since organisations can have very different workflows, the creation of compatible workflows so that organisations can collaborate and/or carry out mutual transactions automatically in an integrated fashion can be a very complex and time consuming process. As a consequence, the development of technologies to support the creation and execution of compatible workflows is a most relevant issue. In the present article we introduce the JamSession coordination platform as a tool to implement cross-organisational workflow integration. JamSession is declarative and based on algebraic specification methods, and therefore workflow integration implemented using this platform can profit from formal behavioural analysis, based on which desired features and properties can be verified and/or obtained
Contributions to an anthropological approach to the cultural adaptation of migrant agents
This thesis proposes the use of Cultural Anthropology as a source of inspiration for solutions to the problem of adaptation of autonomous, intelligent, computational agents that migrate to societies of agents with distinctive features from the ones of the society where those agents were originally conceived. This has implications for interoperation of disparate Multi-Agent Systems. In particular, the cognitive approach to anthropology is argued to be a suitable theoretical foun-dation for this topic. Fieldwork practice in social anthropology is also indicated as an useful source of ideas. A pragmatic theory of intensionality is incorporated in this anthropological approach, resulting in a mechanism that allows agents to ascribe intensional ontologies of terms to societies that use unfamiliar means of communication; also, taxonomical relations among the terms in such ontologies can be retrieved, by means of a process inspired by the counterpart activity of ethnographers. This is presented using the Z notation for formal specification of systems, and illustrated on a set of terms from the game of cricket. Subsequently, a simulation of a game of cricket is described where one of the players is unfamiliar with the game, and therefore needs to learn the game by observing the other players. A reasonable behaviour for such a player is obtained, and the simulation offers grounds for further anthropologically-based studies. Further, a study of theories of moral sentiments is presented, and the Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma is used in simulations based on those ideas. The results of the simulations show clearly the positive impact, on groups of agents, of altruistic behaviour; this can only be coherently obtained in autonomous agents by modelling emotions, which are relevant for this project as anthropologists recognise them as an essential cross-cultural link. Finally, the consequences of this project to conceptions of Distributed Artificial Intelligence are discussed
Topologies of agents interactions in knowledge intensive multi-agentsystems for networked information services
Agents in a multi-agent system (mAS) could interact and cooperate in many different ways. The topology of agent interaction determines how the agents control and communicate with each other, what are the control and communication capabilities of each agent and the whole system, and how efficient the control and communications are. In consequence, the topology affects the agentsâ ability to share knowledge, integrate knowledge, and make efficient use of knowledge in MAS. This paper presents an overview of four major MAS topologic models, assesses their advantages and disadvantages in terms of agent autonomy, adaptation, scalability, and efficiency of cooperation. Some insights into the applicability for each of the topologies to different environment and domain specific applications are explored. A design example of the topological models to an information service management application is attempted to illustrate the practical merits of each topology
Archetype based intelligent system for healthcare interoperability
Tese doutoramento - Programa Doutoral em Engenharia BiomédicaThe healthcare arena configures an environment of both complexity and cooperation, in
which numerous and distinct information systems must exchange information in a expedite
and consolidated manner. Where healthcare interoperability is concerned several techniques,
methodologies, architectures and standards exist. However subjects such as service distribution,
fault tolerance, standards, communication flavoring and tightly-bound systems still are a
major issue of concern.
This work studies and researches the best methodologies to imbue intelligent behaviours
combined with ontology and moral awareness into multi-agents system applied to healthcare
environments. Its core objective is to propose, develop, implement and evaluate an archetype
for an interoperability platform oriented towards the healthcare environment. This archetype
was validated in several implementation in different major healthcare institutions. It is based
in an agent framework named JADE and is adapted and oriented towards the healthcare
environment.
Henceforth the resulting archetype addresses the existing limitations in past and present
solutions regarding healthcare interoperability. It explores the limits of intelligent behaviours
in multi-agent systems applied to interoperation procedures in healthcare, towards the improvement
of the reliability and quality of information exchanged.A ĂĄrea da saĂșde configura um ambiente de grande complexidade e cooperação onde inĂșmeros
e distintos sistemas de informação tĂȘm que trocar informação entre si de uma forma
expedita e consolidada. No ùmbito da interoperabilidade hospitalar existem vårias técnicas,
metodologias, arquiteturas e standards. No entanto, temas como distribuição de serviços, tolerùncia
à falha, standards, flavouring de comunicaçÔes e sistemas fortemente acoplados,
continuam a ser um importante fonte de preocupação.
Este trabalho estuda e pesquiza as melhores metodologias de embeber comportamentos
inteligentes combinados com ontologias e noçÔes morais em sistemas multi-agentes aplicados
a ambientes hospitalares. O seu objectivo principal Ă© propor, desenvolver, implementar e
avaliar um arquétipo para uma plataforma de interoperabilidade orientada para o ambiente
hospitalar. Este arquĂ©tipo foi validado em diferentes implementaçÔes em instituiçÔes de saĂșde
portuguesas de grande dimensĂŁo. Esta plataforma Ă© baseada numa framework de agentes
denominada JADE e foi adaptada e orientada para o ambiente hospitalar..
Desta forma o arquétipo resultante é orientado para resolver as limitaçÔes existentes nas
soluçÔes atuais de interoperabilidade hospitalar. Este explora os limites dos comportamentos
inteligentes em sistemas multi-agente quando aplicados em procedimentos de interoperabilidade
na ĂĄrea da saĂșde para melhorar a fiabilidade e qualidade da informação trocada entre
estes sistemas
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