Special Issue ``Multi-Agent Systems'': Editorial

Multi-agent systems (MAS) allow and promote the development of distributed and intelligent applications in complex and dynamic environments. Applications of this kind have a crucial role in our everyday life, as witnessed by the broad range of domains they are deployed to---such as manufacturing, management sciences, e-commerce, biotechnology, etc. Despite heterogeneity, those domains share common requirements such as autonomy, structured interaction, mobility, and openness---which are well suited for MAS. Therein, in fact, goal-oriented processes can enter and leave the system dynamically and interact with each other according to structured protocols. This special issue gathers 17 contributions spanning from agent-based modelling and simulation to applications of MAS in situated and socio-technical systems

Multi-Agent Systems

This Special Issue ""Multi-Agent Systems"" gathers original research articles reporting results on the steadily growing area of agent-oriented computing and multi-agent systems technologies. After more than 20 years of academic research on multi-agent systems (MASs), in fact, agent-oriented models and technologies have been promoted as the most suitable candidates for the design and development of distributed and intelligent applications in complex and dynamic environments. With respect to both their quality and range, the papers in this Special Issue already represent a meaningful sample of the most recent advancements in the field of agent-oriented models and technologies. In particular, the 17 contributions cover agent-based modeling and simulation, situated multi-agent systems, socio-technical multi-agent systems, and semantic technologies applied to multi-agent systems. In fact, it is surprising to witness how such a limited portion of MAS research already highlights the most relevant usage of agent-based models and technologies, as well as their most appreciated characteristics. We are thus confident that the readers of Applied Sciences will be able to appreciate the growing role that MASs will play in the design and development of the next generation of complex intelligent systems. This Special Issue has been converted into a yearly series, for which a new call for papers is already available at the Applied Sciences journal’s website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci/special_issues/Multi-Agent_Systems_2019

Moving Ahead With Human-Machine Communication

In this essay, we introduce the 10 articles comprising Volume 2 (2021) of Human-Machine Communication, each of which is innovative and offers a substantial contribution to the field of human-machine communication (HMC). As a collection, these articles move forward the HMC project by touching on four layers of important discourse: (1) updates to theoretical frameworks and paradigms, including Computers as Social Actors (CASA), (2) examination of ontology and prototyping processes, (3) critical analysis of gender and ability/disability relations, and (4) extension of HMC scholarship into organizational contexts. Building upon the insights offered by the contributing authors and incorporating perspectives coming from the historical, sociological, and semiotic (and hermeneutic) disciplines, we discuss challenges of applying CASA in HMC to suggest reframing in light of long-standing human experiences with automata, objective culture, narration (fiction), and symbols. Whereas CASA’s “old brains engage new media” formulation leads naturally to a focus on mindless versus mindful attribution processes, these hermeneutic and semiotic interpretations of robots/media as narrative texts and symbolic humans beg scholarly attention to issues of literacy and representation, respectively. Finally, we advance a series of justifications/calls for future research avenues

Multi-Agent Systems

[EN] With the current advance of technology, agent-based applications are becoming a standard in a great variety of domains such as e-commerce, logistics, supply chain management, telecommunications, healthcare, and manufacturing. Another reason for the widespread interest in multi-agent systems is that these systems are seen as a technology and a tool that helps in the analysis and development of new models and theories in large-scale distributed systems or in human-centered systems. This last aspect is currently of great interest due to the need for democratization in the use of technology that allows people without technical preparation to interact with the devices in a simple and coherent way. In this Special Issue, different interesting approaches that advance this research discipline have been selected and presented.Julian Inglada, VJ.; Botti V. (2019). Multi-Agent Systems. Applied Sciences. 9(7):1-7. https://doi.org/10.3390/app9071402S1797Kravari, K., & Bassiliades, N. (2015). A Survey of Agent Platforms. Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, 18(1). doi:10.18564/jasss.2661Baldoni, M., Baroglio, C., May, K., Micalizio, R., & Tedeschi, S. (2018). Computational Accountability in MAS Organizations with ADOPT. Applied Sciences, 8(4), 489. doi:10.3390/app8040489Boissier, O., Bordini, R. H., Hübner, J. F., Ricci, A., & Santi, A. (2013). Multi-agent oriented programming with JaCaMo. Science of Computer Programming, 78(6), 747-761. doi:10.1016/j.scico.2011.10.004Challenger, M., Tezel, B., Alaca, O., Tekinerdogan, B., & Kardas, G. (2018). Development of Semantic Web-Enabled BDI Multi-Agent Systems Using SEA_ML: An Electronic Bartering Case Study. Applied Sciences, 8(5), 688. doi:10.3390/app8050688Challenger, M., Demirkol, S., Getir, S., Mernik, M., Kardas, G., & Kosar, T. (2014). On the use of a domain-specific modeling language in the development of multiagent systems. Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, 28, 111-141. doi:10.1016/j.engappai.2013.11.012Boztepe, İ., & Erdur, R. (2018). Linked Data Aware Agent Development Framework for Mobile Devices. Applied Sciences, 8(10), 1831. doi:10.3390/app8101831Shoham, Y., Powers, R., & Grenager, T. (2007). If multi-agent learning is the answer, what is the question? Artificial Intelligence, 171(7), 365-377. doi:10.1016/j.artint.2006.02.006Duan, K., Fong, S., Zhuang, Y., & Song, W. (2018). Artificial Neural Networks in Coordinated Control of Multiple Hovercrafts with Unmodeled Terms. Applied Sciences, 8(6), 862. doi:10.3390/app8060862Zhang, Q., Yao, J., Yin, Q., & Zha, Y. (2018). Learning Behavior Trees for Autonomous Agents with Hybrid Constraints Evolution. Applied Sciences, 8(7), 1077. doi:10.3390/app8071077Cook, D. J., Augusto, J. C., & Jakkula, V. R. (2009). Ambient intelligence: Technologies, applications, and opportunities. Pervasive and Mobile Computing, 5(4), 277-298. doi:10.1016/j.pmcj.2009.04.001Kranz, M., Holleis, P., & Schmidt, A. (2010). Embedded Interaction: Interacting with the Internet of Things. IEEE Internet Computing, 14(2), 46-53. doi:10.1109/mic.2009.141Gershenfeld, N., Krikorian, R., & Cohen, D. (2004). The Internet of Things. Scientific American, 291(4), 76-81. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican1004-76Atzori, L., Iera, A., & Morabito, G. (2010). The Internet of Things: A survey. Computer Networks, 54(15), 2787-2805. doi:10.1016/j.comnet.2010.05.010Costa, A., Novais, P., Corchado, J. M., & Neves, J. (2011). Increased performance and better patient attendance in an hospital with the use of smart agendas. Logic Journal of IGPL, 20(4), 689-698. doi:10.1093/jigpal/jzr021Tapia, D. I., & Corchado, J. M. (2009). An Ambient Intelligence Based Multi-Agent System for Alzheimer Health Care. International Journal of Ambient Computing and Intelligence, 1(1), 15-26. doi:10.4018/jaci.2009010102Barriuso, A., De la Prieta, F., Villarrubia González, G., De La Iglesia, D., & Lozano, Á. (2018). MOVICLOUD: Agent-Based 3D Platform for the Labor Integration of Disabled People. Applied Sciences, 8(3), 337. doi:10.3390/app8030337Rosales, R., Castañón-Puga, M., Lara-Rosano, F., Flores-Parra, J., Evans, R., Osuna-Millan, N., & Gaxiola-Pacheco, C. (2018). Modelling the Interaction Levels in HCI Using an Intelligent Hybrid System with Interactive Agents: A Case Study of an Interactive Museum Exhibition Module in Mexico. Applied Sciences, 8(3), 446. doi:10.3390/app8030446Ramos, J., Oliveira, T., Satoh, K., Neves, J., & Novais, P. (2018). Cognitive Assistants—An Analysis and Future Trends Based on Speculative Default Reasoning. Applied Sciences, 8(5), 742. doi:10.3390/app8050742SATOH, K. (2005). Speculative Computation and Abduction for an Autonomous Agent. IEICE Transactions on Information and Systems, E88-D(9), 2031-2038. doi:10.1093/ietisy/e88-d.9.2031Miyashita, K. (2017). Incremental Design of Perishable Goods Markets through Multi-Agent Simulations. Applied Sciences, 7(12), 1300. doi:10.3390/app7121300Albino, V., Berardi, U., & Dangelico, R. M. (2015). Smart Cities: Definitions, Dimensions, Performance, and Initiatives. Journal of Urban Technology, 22(1), 3-21. doi:10.1080/10630732.2014.942092Roscia, M., Longo, M., & Lazaroiu, G. C. (2013). Smart City by multi-agent systems. 2013 International Conference on Renewable Energy Research and Applications (ICRERA). doi:10.1109/icrera.2013.6749783Lozano, Á., De Paz, J., Villarrubia González, G., Iglesia, D., & Bajo, J. (2018). Multi-Agent System for Demand Prediction and Trip Visualization in Bike Sharing Systems. Applied Sciences, 8(1), 67. doi:10.3390/app8010067Jordán, J., Palanca, J., del Val, E., Julian, V., & Botti, V. (2018). A Multi-Agent System for the Dynamic Emplacement of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations. Applied Sciences, 8(2), 313. doi:10.3390/app8020313Billhardt, H., Fernández, A., Lujak, M., & Ossowski, S. (2018). Agreement Technologies for Coordination in Smart Cities. Applied Sciences, 8(5), 816. doi:10.3390/app805081

Agents for educational games and simulations

This book consists mainly of revised papers that were presented at the Agents for Educational Games and Simulation (AEGS) workshop held on May 2, 2011, as part of the Autonomous Agents and MultiAgent Systems (AAMAS) conference in Taipei, Taiwan. The 12 full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from various submissions. The papers are organized topical sections on middleware applications, dialogues and learning, adaption and convergence, and agent applications

Towards a Sustainable Life: Smart and Green Design in Buildings and Community

This Special Issue includes contributions about occupants’ sustainable living in buildings and communities, highlighting issues surrounding the sustainable development of our environments and lives by emphasizing smart and green design perspectives. This Special Issue specifically focuses on research and case studies that develop promising methods for the sustainable development of our environment and identify factors critical to the application of a sustainable paradigm for quality of life from a user-oriented perspective. After a rigorous review of the submissions by experts, fourteen articles concerning sustainable living and development are published in this Special Issue, written by authors sharing their expertise and approaches to the concept and application of sustainability in their fields. The fourteen contributions to this special issue can be categorized into four groups, depending on the issues that they address. All the proposed methods, models, and applications in these studies contribute to the current understanding of the adoption of the sustainability paradigm and are likely to inspire further research addressing the challenges of constructing sustainable buildings and communities resulting in a sustainable life for all of society

Participative Urban Health and Healthy Aging in the Age of AI

This open access book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 18th International Conference on String Processing and Information Retrieval, ICOST 2022, held in Paris, France, in June 2022. The 15 full papers and 10 short papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 33 submissions. They cover topics such as design, development, deployment, and evaluation of AI for health, smart urban environments, assistive technologies, chronic disease management, and coaching and health telematics systems

Artificial Societies, Virtual Worlds, and Their Meaningful Integration

Artificial societies and virtual worlds are two areas of interest to modern social scientists that are distinctly separate in modern academic study, and are yet undeniably related. Artificial societies are multi-agent systems comprised of autonomous social agents, programmed with their own set of rules and behavior. While virtual worlds are occupied in large part by human controlled agents participating in a collective virtual experience and space. Within both types of virtual environments there can be found a scarcity of resources and intricate cross-entity interaction. This often results in the development and evolution of complex economic and cultural structures. In addition, by examining the modern research and common history shared by each field, it is possible to compile a set of shared attributes. This work attempts to capitalize on these shared features and promote a new type of integrated analysis that holds potential for future development in both fields. The concrete implementation of these ideas takes form as a simple economic model containing meaningful computer and human interaction as well as a framework designed for future extensibility