387 research outputs found
Ten Challenges for Normative Multiagent Systems
In this paper we discuss the shift from a legal to an interactionist view
on normative multiagent systems, examples, and ten new challenges in
this more dynamic setting
The Effects of the Quantification of Faculty Productivity: Perspectives from the Design Science Research Community
In recent years, efforts to assess faculty research productivity have focused more on the measurable quantification of academic outcomes. For benchmarking academic performance, researchers have developed different ranking and rating lists that define so-called high-quality research. While many scholars in IS consider lists such as the Senior Scholar’s basket (SSB) to provide good guidance, others who belong to less-mainstream groups in the IS discipline could perceive these lists as constraining. Thus, we analyzed the perceived impact of the SSB on information systems (IS) academics working in design science research (DSR) and, in particular, how it has affected their research behavior. We found the DSR community felt a strong normative influence from the SSB. We conducted a content analysis of the SSB and found evidence that some of its journals have come to accept DSR more. We note the emergence of papers in the SSB that outline the role of theory in DSR and describe DSR methodologies, which indicates that the DSR community has rallied to describe what to expect from a DSR manuscript to the broader IS community and to guide the DSR community on how to organize papers for publication in the SSB
TRAMMAS: Enhancing Communication in Multiagent Systems
Tesis por compendio[EN] Over the last years, multiagent systems have been proven to be a powerful and versatile paradigm, with a big
potential when it comes to solving complex problems in dynamic and distributed environments, due to their flexible
and adaptive behavior. This potential does not only come from the individual features of agents (such as autonomy,
reactivity or reasoning power), but also to their capability to communicate, cooperate and coordinate in order to
fulfill their goals. In fact, it is this social behavior what makes multiagent systems so powerful, much more than the
individual capabilities of agents.
The social behavior of multiagent systems is usually developed by means of high
level abstractions, protocols and languages, which normally rely on (or at least, benefit from) agents being able to
communicate and interact indirectly. However, in the development process, such high level concepts habitually
become weakly supported, with mechanisms such as traditional messaging, massive broadcasting, blackboard
systems or ad hoc solutions. This lack of an appropriate way to support indirect communication in actual multiagent
systems compromises their potential.
This PhD thesis proposes the use of event tracing as a flexible, effective and efficient support for indirect interaction
and communication in multiagent systems. The main contribution of this thesis is TRAMMAS, a generic, abstract
model for event tracing support in multiagent systems. The model allows all entities in the system to share their
information as trace events, so that any other entity which require this information is able to receive it. Along with
the model, the thesis also presents an abstract architecture, which redefines the model in terms of a set of tracing
facilities that can be then easily incorporated to an actual multiagent platform. This architecture follows a
service-oriented approach, so that the tracing facilities are provided in the same way than other traditional services
offered by the platform. In this way, event tracing can be considered as an additional information provider for
entities in the multiagent system, and as such, it can be integrated from the earliest stages of the development
process.[ES] A lo largo de los últimos años, los sistemas multiagente han demostrado ser un paradigma potente y versátil,
con un gran potencial a la hora de resolver problemas complejos en entornos dinámicos y distribuidos, gracias a
su comportamiento flexible y adaptativo. Este potencial no es debido únicamente a las caracterÃsticas individuales
de los agentes (como son su autonomÃa, y su capacidades de reacción y de razonamiento), sino que también se
debe a su capacidad de comunicación y cooperación a la hora de conseguir sus objetivos. De hecho, por encima
de la capacidad individual de los agentes, es este comportamiento social el que dota de potencial a los sistemas
multiagente.
El comportamiento social de los sistemas multiagente suele desarrollarse empleando abstracciones, protocolos y
lenguajes de alto nivel, los cuales, a su vez, se basan normalmente en la capacidad para comunicarse e
interactuar de manera indirecta de los agentes (o como mÃnimo, se benefician en gran medida de dicha
capacidad). Sin embargo, en el proceso de desarrollo software, estos conceptos de alto nivel son soportados
habitualmente de manera débil, mediante mecanismos como la mensajerÃa tradicional, la difusión masiva, o el uso
de pizarras, o mediante soluciones totalmente ad hoc. Esta carencia de un soporte genérico y apropiado para la
comunicación indirecta en los sistemas multiagente reales compromete su potencial.
Esta tesis doctoral propone el uso del trazado de eventos como un soporte flexible, efectivo y eficiente para la
comunicación indirecta en sistemas multiagente. La principal contribución de esta tesis es TRAMMAS, un modelo
genérico y abstracto para dar soporte al trazado de eventos en sistemas multiagente. El modelo permite a
cualquier entidad del sistema compartir su información en forma de eventos de traza, de tal manera que cualquier
otra entidad que requiera esta información sea capaz de recibirla. Junto con el modelo, la tesis también presenta
una arquitectura {abs}{trac}{ta}, que redefine el modelo como un conjunto de funcionalidades que pueden ser
fácilmente incorporadas a una plataforma multiagente real. Esta arquitectura sigue un enfoque orientado a
servicios, de modo que las funcionalidades de traza son ofrecidas por parte de la plataforma de manera similar a
los servicios tradicionales. De esta forma, el trazado de eventos puede ser considerado como una fuente adicional
de información para las entidades del sistema multiagente y, como tal, puede integrarse en el proceso de
desarrollo software desde sus primeras etapas.[CA] Al llarg dels últims anys, els sistemes multiagent han demostrat ser un paradigma potent i versà til, amb un gran
potencial a l'hora de resoldre problemes complexes a entorns dinà mics i distribuïts, grà cies al seu comportament
flexible i adaptatiu. Aquest potencial no és només degut a les caracterÃstiques individuals dels agents (com són la
seua autonomia, i les capacitats de reacció i raonament), sinó també a la seua capacitat de comunicació i
cooperació a l'hora d'aconseguir els seus objectius. De fet, per damunt de la capacitat individual dels agents, es
aquest comportament social el que dóna potencial als sistemes multiagent.
El comportament social dels sistemes multiagent solen desenvolupar-se utilitzant abstraccions, protocols i
llenguatges d'alt nivell, els quals, al seu torn, es basen normalment a la capacitat dels agents de comunicar-se i
interactuar de manera indirecta (o com a mÃnim, es beneficien en gran mesura d'aquesta capacitat). Tanmateix, al
procés de desenvolupament software, aquests conceptes d'alt nivell son suportats habitualment d'una manera
dèbil, mitjançant mecanismes com la missatgeria tradicional, la difusió massiva o l'ús de pissarres, o mitjançant
solucions totalment ad hoc. Aquesta carència d'un suport genèric i apropiat per a la comunicació indirecta als
sistemes multiagent reals compromet el seu potencial.
Aquesta tesi doctoral proposa l'ús del traçat d'esdeveniments com un suport flexible, efectiu i eficient per a la
comunicació indirecta a sistemes multiagent. La principal contribució d'aquesta tesi és TRAMMAS, un model
genèric i abstracte per a donar suport al traçat d'esdeveniments a sistemes multiagent. El model permet a
qualsevol entitat del sistema compartir la seua informació amb la forma d'esdeveniments de traça, de tal forma que
qualsevol altra entitat que necessite aquesta informació siga capaç de rebre-la. Junt amb el model, la tesi també
presenta una arquitectura abstracta, que redefineix el model com un conjunt de funcionalitats que poden ser
fà cilment incorporades a una plataforma multiagent real. Aquesta arquitectura segueix un enfoc orientat a serveis,
de manera que les funcionalitats de traça són oferides per part de la plataforma de manera similar als serveis
tradicionals. D'aquesta manera, el traçat d'esdeveniments pot ser considerat com una font addicional d'informació
per a les entitats del sistema multiagent, i com a tal, pot integrar-se al procés de desenvolupament software des de
les seues primeres etapes.Búrdalo Rapa, LA. (2016). TRAMMAS: Enhancing Communication in Multiagent Systems [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/61765TESISCompendi
Organization based multiagent architecture for distributed environments
[EN]Distributed environments represent a complex field in which applied solutions should be flexible and include significant adaptation capabilities. These environments are related to problems where multiple users and devices may interact, and where simple and local solutions could possibly generate good results, but may not be effective with regards to use and interaction.
There are many techniques that can be employed to face this kind of problems, from CORBA to multi-agent systems, passing by web-services and SOA, among others. All those methodologies have their advantages and disadvantages that are properly analyzed in this documents, to finally explain the new architecture presented as a solution for distributed environment problems.
The new architecture for solving complex solutions in distributed environments presented here is called OBaMADE: Organization Based Multiagent Architecture for Distributed Environments. It is a multiagent architecture based on the organizations of agents paradigm, where the agents in the architecture are structured into organizations to improve their organizational capabilities.
The reasoning power of the architecture is based on the Case-Based Reasoning methology, being implemented in a internal organization that uses agents to create services to solve the external request made by the users.
The OBaMADE architecture has been successfully applied to two different case studies where its prediction capabilities have been properly checked. Those case studies have showed optimistic results and, being complex systems, have demonstrated the abstraction and generalizations capabilities of the architecture.
Nevertheless OBaMADE is intended to be able to solve much other kind of problems in distributed environments scenarios. It should be applied to other varieties of situations and to other knowledge fields to fully develop its potencial.[ES]Los entornos distribuidos representan un campo de conocimiento complejo en el que las soluciones a aplicar deben ser flexibles y deben contar con gran capacidad de adaptación. Este tipo de entornos está normalmente relacionado con problemas donde varios usuarios y dispositivos entran en juego. Para solucionar dichos problemas, pueden utilizarse sistemas locales que, aunque ofrezcan buenos resultados en términos de calidad de los mismos, no son tan efectivos en cuanto a la interacción y posibilidades de uso.
Existen múltiples técnicas que pueden ser empleadas para resolver este tipo de problemas, desde CORBA a sistemas multiagente, pasando por servicios web y SOA, entre otros. Todas estas mitologÃas tienen sus ventajas e inconvenientes, que se analizan en este documento, para explicar, finalmente, la nueva arquitectura presentada como una solución para los problemas generados en entornos distribuidos.
La nueva arquitectura aquà se llama OBaMADE, que es el acrónimo del inglés Organization Based Multiagent Architecture for Distributed Environments (Arquitectura Multiagente Basada en Organizaciones para Entornos Distribuidos). Se trata de una arquitectura multiagente basasa en el paradigma de las organizaciones de agente, donde los agentes que forman parte de la arquitectura se estructuran en organizaciones para mejorar sus capacidades organizativas.
La capacidad de razonamiento de la arquitectura está basada en la metodologÃa de razonamiento basado en casos, que se ha implementado en una de las organizaciones internas de la arquitectura por medio de agentes que crean servicios que responden a las solicitudes externas de los usuarios.
La arquitectura OBaMADE se ha aplicado de forma exitosa a dos casos de estudio diferentes, en los que se han demostrado sus capacidades predictivas. Aplicando OBaMADE a estos casos de estudio se han obtenido resultados esperanzadores y, al ser sistemas complejos, se han demostrado las capacidades tanto de abstracción como de generalización de la arquitectura presentada.
Sin embargo, esta arquitectura está diseñada para poder ser aplicada a más tipo de problemas de entornos distribuidos. Debe ser aplicada a más variadas situaciones y a otros campos de conocimiento para desarrollar completamente el potencial de esta arquitectura
A Framework for Modeling Human Behavior in Large-scale Agent-based Epidemic Simulations
Acknowledgements We thank Cuebiq; mobility data is provided by Cuebiq, a location intelligence and measurement platform. Through its Data for Good program, Cuebiq provides access to aggregated mobility data for academic research and humanitarian initiatives. This first-party data is collected from anonymized users who have opted-in to provide access to their location data anonymously, through a GDPR and CCPA compliant framework. To further preserve privacy, portions of the data are aggregated to the census-block group level. For the purpose of open access, the authors have applied a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Editorial : Law in Context for the Digital Age
https://journals.latrobe.edu.au/index.php/law-in-context/article/view/91We introduce both the new inception of Law in Context - A Socio-legal Journal and the continuing issue of LiC 36 (1). The editorial provides a brief historical account of the Journal since its inception in the early 1980s, in the context of the evolution of the Law & Society movement. It also describes the changes produced in the digital age by the emergence of the Web of Data, Big Data, and the Internet of Things. The convergence between Law & Society and Artificial Intelligence & Law is also discussed. Finally, we introduce briefly the articles included in this issue
Optimal and Approximate Q-value Functions for Decentralized POMDPs
Decision-theoretic planning is a popular approach to sequential decision
making problems, because it treats uncertainty in sensing and acting in a
principled way. In single-agent frameworks like MDPs and POMDPs, planning can
be carried out by resorting to Q-value functions: an optimal Q-value function
Q* is computed in a recursive manner by dynamic programming, and then an
optimal policy is extracted from Q*. In this paper we study whether similar
Q-value functions can be defined for decentralized POMDP models (Dec-POMDPs),
and how policies can be extracted from such value functions. We define two
forms of the optimal Q-value function for Dec-POMDPs: one that gives a
normative description as the Q-value function of an optimal pure joint policy
and another one that is sequentially rational and thus gives a recipe for
computation. This computation, however, is infeasible for all but the smallest
problems. Therefore, we analyze various approximate Q-value functions that
allow for efficient computation. We describe how they relate, and we prove that
they all provide an upper bound to the optimal Q-value function Q*. Finally,
unifying some previous approaches for solving Dec-POMDPs, we describe a family
of algorithms for extracting policies from such Q-value functions, and perform
an experimental evaluation on existing test problems, including a new
firefighting benchmark problem
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