Agent-Based Computing: Promise and Perils

Agent-based computing represents an exciting new synthesis both for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and, more generally, Computer Science. It has the potential to significantly improve the theory and practice of modelling, designing and implementing complex systems. Yet, to date, there has been little systematic analysis of what makes an agent such an appealing and powerful conceptual model. Moreover, even less effort has been devoted to exploring the inherent disadvantages that stem from adopting an agent-oriented view. Here both sets of issues are explored. The standpoint of this analysis is the role of agent-based software in solving complex, real-world problems. In particular, it will be argued that the development of robust and scalable software systems requires autonomous agents that can complete their objectives while situated in a dynamic and uncertain environment, that can engage in rich, high-level social interactions, and that can operate within flexible organisational structures

NASA space station automation: AI-based technology review

Research and Development projects in automation for the Space Station are discussed. Artificial Intelligence (AI) based automation technologies are planned to enhance crew safety through reduced need for EVA, increase crew productivity through the reduction of routine operations, increase space station autonomy, and augment space station capability through the use of teleoperation and robotics. AI technology will also be developed for the servicing of satellites at the Space Station, system monitoring and diagnosis, space manufacturing, and the assembly of large space structures

On Agent-Based Software Engineering

Agent-based computing represents an exciting new synthesis both for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and, more generally, Computer Science. It has the potential to significantly improve the theory and the practice of modeling, designing, and implementing computer systems. Yet, to date, there has been little systematic analysis of what makes the agent-based approach such an appealing and powerful computational model. Moreover, even less effort has been devoted to discussing the inherent disadvantages that stem from adopting an agent-oriented view. Here both sets of issues are explored. The standpoint of this analysis is the role of agent-based software in solving complex, real-world problems. In particular, it will be argued that the development of robust and scalable software systems requires autonomous agents that can complete their objectives while situated in a dynamic and uncertain environment, that can engage in rich, high-level social interactions, and that can operate within flexible organisational structures

Bridging the lesson distribution gap

Paper presented at The 17th International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence, IJCAI 2001, Seattle, WA: pp. 987-992.Many organizations employ lessons learned (LL) processes to collect, analyze, store, and distribute, validated experiential knowledge (lessons) of their members that, when reused, can substantially improve organizational decision processes. Unfortunately, deployed LL systems do not facilitate lesson reuse and fail to bring lessons to the attention of the users when and where they are needed and applicable (i.e., they fail to bridge the lesson distribution gap). Our approach for solving this problem, named monitored distribution, tightly integrates lesson distribution with these decision processes. We describe a case-based implementation of monitored distribution (ALDS) in a plan authoring tool suite (HICAP). We evaluate its utility in a simulated military planning domain. Our results show that monitored distribution can significantly improve plan evaluation measures for this domain

Tools for inventing organizations : toward a handbook of organizational processes

"May, 1993."Includes bibliographical references (p. 18-20).Supported by the Digital Equipment Corporation. Supported by the National Science Foundation. IRI-8903034Thomas W. Malone ... [et al.]

Bridging the lesson distribution gap

Paper presented at The 17th International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence, IJCAI 2001, Seattle, WA: pp. 987-992.Many organizations employ lessons learned (LL) processes to collect, analyze, store, and distribute, validated experiential knowledge (lessons) of their members that, when reused, can substantially improve organizational decision processes. Unfortunately, deployed LL systems do not facilitate lesson reuse and fail to bring lessons to the attention of the users when and where they are needed and applicable (i.e., they fail to bridge the lesson distribution gap). Our approach for solving this problem, named monitored distribution, tightly integrates lesson distribution with these decision processes. We describe a case-based implementation of monitored distribution (ALDS) in a plan authoring tool suite (HICAP). We evaluate its utility in a simulated military planning domain. Our results show that monitored distribution can significantly improve plan evaluation measures for this domain

Perceptions and Experiences of Online Learning and Synchronous Communication

Abstract High-quality and effective online education is essential to the continuous growth of higher education. As online higher education grows in professional programs, it is especially pertinent to investigate learning designs for their effectiveness in supporting the acquisition of professional skills. Drawing upon the Community of Inquiry (CoI) and the Practice-Based Teaching (PBT) frameworks, this research investigated the effectiveness of one online graduate program designed for practicing teachers to learn new skills (i.e., diagnostic assessment and differentiated instruction) in teaching reading to elementary students. The learning design introduced a new component of virtual presence (i.e., synchronous communication) at strategic points in the online learning process during a three-course clinical sequence in which the teacher participants engaged in field learning experiences. The study used a case study approach to investigate teacher participants’ perceptions of the factors that enabled their online learning during the clinical course sequence. Findings indicated that the teacher participants perceived their online learning environment to be generally high in the CoI factor. They also appreciated that the learning environment incorporated opportunities for authentic, hands-on and practice-centered learning through the use of multiple representations of artifacts, encouraged engagement and clearly identified critical features that can be practiced and applied, with the opportunity to enact these practices learned while in the field. Teacher participants further indicated the critical importance of synchronous communication (virtual presence) component in supporting their learning of the teaching practices in field settings. Implications of these findings are discussed for the expansion of online higher education and applications to other professional learning environments. keywords: online, virtual presence, practice based learning, community of inquir

Dagstuhl News January - December 2001

"Dagstuhl News" is a publication edited especially for the members of the Foundation "Informatikzentrum Schloss Dagstuhl" to thank them for their support. The News give a summary of the scientific work being done in Dagstuhl. Each Dagstuhl Seminar is presented by a small abstract describing the contents and scientific highlights of the seminar as well as the perspectives or challenges of the research topic

Development of an Intelligent Monitoring and Control System for a Heterogeneous Numerical Propulsion System Simulation

The NASA Numerical Propulsion System Simulation (NPSS) project is exploring the use of computer simulation to facilitate the design of new jet engines. Several key issues raised in this research are being examined in an NPSS-related research project: zooming, monitoring and control, and support for heterogeneity. The design of a simulation executive that addresses each of these issues is described. In this work, the strategy of zooming, which allows codes that model at different levels of fidelity to be integrated within a single simulation, is applied to the fan component of a turbofan propulsion system. A prototype monitoring and control system has been designed for this simulation to support experimentation with expert system techniques for active control of the simulation. An interconnection system provides a transparent means of connecting the heterogeneous systems that comprise the prototype