Deliberate evolution in multi-agent systems

and their applications. SMC is sponsored by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). CWI is a member o

Deliberate Evolution in Multi-Agent Systems

This paper presents an architecture for an agent capable of deliberation about the creation of new agents, and of actually creating a new agent in the multi-agent system, on the basis of this deliberation. The agent architecture is based on an existin

Deliberate evolution in multi-agent systems

This paper presents an architecture for an agent capable of deliberation about the creation of new agents, and of actually creating a new agent in the multi-agent system, on the basis of this deliberation. After its creation the new agent participates fully in the running multi-agent system. The agent architecture is based on an existing generic agent model, and includes explicit formal conceptual representations of both structures of agents and (behavioural) properties of agents that can be used as requirements. Moreover, to support the deliberation process the agent has explicit knowledge of relations between structure and properties of agents. To actually create a new agent at run-time on the basis of the results of deliberation, the agent executes a creation action in the material world, which leads to a world state update to include the new agent, after which the new agent functions within the multi-agent system. This approach enables the design of evolution processes in societies of agents for which the evolution is not a merely material process which takes place in isolation from the mental worlds of the agents, but allows for interaction between mental and material processes. A combined mind-matter approach results in which the agents in a society can deliberatively influence the direction of the evolution, comparable to the potential offered by genetic engineering. The architecture has been designed using the compositional development method DESIRE, and has been tested in a prototype implementation. It is discussed how the approach introduced here can be used as a basis for automatic evolution of multi-agent systems for Electronic Commerce

Designing Creativity

Is it possible to design for creativity? This is one of the most important research questions in AI and Design. This paper raises the question whether automated software agent design can be creative. Not only is the artefact dynamic in the sense that it adapts to its environment, it is also autonomous: an agent decides on its own when to be modified and by whom. An agent's functionality may evolve beyond the expectations of its designers and/or users resulting in very new, unique artefacts. Is this type of design creative? Is the process creative? The result? 1

Automated Servicing of Agents

Agents need to be able to adapt to changes in their environment. One way to achieve this, is to service agents when needed. A separate servicing facility, a multi-agent factory, is capable of automatically modifying agents. This paper discusses th

Designing Self-Modifying Agents

Agents need to be able to adapt to changes in their environment. One way to achieve this, is to provide agents with the ability of self-modification. Self-modification requires reflection and strategies with which new knowledge can be acquired, a necessary condition for creativity. This paper describes a knowledge-level model for the design of self-modifying agents and explores the feasibility of automatically designing self-modifying agents

Strategies for integrating multiple viewpoints and levels of detail

Automated design requires explicit representation of strategic knowledge. This paper focuses on strategic knowledge needed to reason with and about viewpoints during the design of a software agent. Reasoning with and about viewpoints entails not only deciding which viewpoint to consider when and in which context, but also at which level of detail. In this paper an information retrieval agent is used to illustrate how these types of knowledge can be used to design software agents

Re-design of compositional systems

Treur, J. [Promotor]Brazier, F.M.T. [Copromotor