Cooperative production networks - multiagent modeling and planning

Consumer goods are mainly produced in multiple steps through a long process. These steps are often done by separate, independent production nodes (enterprises), linked by supply chains. The networks of enterprises — where members have their own objectives and act in an autonomous, rational way to reach their goals — can be naturally modeled by agent-based methodology. The inner structure of each enterprise is similar in the sense that it contains separated planning functions (e.g., production-, inventory-, capacity planning). While the operation inside an enterprise can be controlled centrally, the interaction between the nodes could be synchronized only by negotiation and coordination. Coordination can be based on protocols which regulate information, material and financial flows alike. In this paper we expose an agent-based organizational model of production networks and suggest some planning algorithms which can handle the uncertainty of demand. In addition, we outline the first results of our ongoing research, an analysis of the asymmetric information case and an appropriate coordination mechanism

Masquerade attack detection through observation planning for multi-robot systems

The increasing adoption of autonomous mobile robots comes with a rising concern over the security of these systems. In this work, we examine the dangers that an adversary could pose in a multi-agent robot system. We show that conventional multi-agent plans are vulnerable to strong attackers masquerading as a properly functioning agent. We propose a novel technique to incorporate attack detection into the multi-agent path-finding problem through the simultaneous synthesis of observation plans. We show that by specially crafting the multi-agent plan, the induced inter-agent observations can provide introspective monitoring guarantees; we achieve guarantees that any adversarial agent that plans to break the system-wide security specification must necessarily violate the induced observation plan.Accepted manuscrip

From supply chains to demand networks. Agents in retailing: the electrical bazaar

A paradigm shift is taking place in logistics. The focus is changing from operational effectiveness to adaptation. Supply Chains will develop into networks that will adapt to consumer demand in almost real time. Time to market, capacity of adaptation and enrichment of customer experience seem to be the key elements of this new paradigm. In this environment emerging technologies like RFID (Radio Frequency ID), Intelligent Products and the Internet, are triggering a reconsideration of methods, procedures and goals. We present a Multiagent System framework specialized in retail that addresses these changes with the use of rational agents and takes advantages of the new market opportunities. Like in an old bazaar, agents able to learn, cooperate, take advantage of gossip and distinguish between collaborators and competitors, have the ability to adapt, learn and react to a changing environment better than any other structure. Keywords: Supply Chains, Distributed Artificial Intelligence, Multiagent System.Postprint (published version