14 research outputs found
Social Relationships for Designing Agent Interaction in JADE
Abstract—Current agent platforms do not provide agents the means for reasoning about expected behaviours during interactions. This lack is due to the absence of design primitives to explicitly shape interaction patterns as first-class resources. This work presents 2COMM4JADE, a framework based on JADE and CArtAgO platforms that allows definition of social relationships among parties, represented by social commitments, decoupled from the agent design itself. I
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
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
GROVE: A computationally grounded model for rational intention revision in BDI agents
A fundamental aspect of Belief-Desire-Intention (BDI) agents is intention revision. Agents revise their intentions in order to maintain consistency between their intentions and beliefs, and consistency between intentions. A rational agent must also account for the optimality of their intentions in the case of revision. To that end I present GROVE, a model of rational intention revision for BDI agents. The semantics of a GROVE agent is defined in terms of constraints and preferences on possible future executions of an agent’s plans. I show that GROVE is weakly rational in the sense of Grant et al. and imposes more constraints on executions than the operational semantics for goal lifecycles proposed by Harland et al. As it may not be computationally feasible to consider all possible future executions, I propose a bounded version of GROVE that samples the set of future executions, and state conditions under which bounded GROVE commits to a rational execution
GROVE: A computationally grounded model for rational intention revision in BDI agents
A fundamental aspect of Belief-Desire-Intention (BDI) agents is intention revision. Agents revise their intentions in order to maintain consistency between their intentions and beliefs, and consistency between intentions. A rational agent must also account for the optimality of their intentions in the case of revision. To that end I present GROVE, a model of rational intention revision for BDI agents. The semantics of a GROVE agent is defined in terms of constraints and preferences on possible future executions of an agent’s plans. I show that GROVE is weakly rational in the sense of Grant et al. and imposes more constraints on executions than the operational semantics for goal lifecycles proposed by Harland et al. As it may not be computationally feasible to consider all possible future executions, I propose a bounded version of GROVE that samples the set of future executions, and state conditions under which bounded GROVE commits to a rational execution
Multi-agent based simulation of self-governing knowledge commons
The potential of user-generated sensor data for participatory sensing has motivated the formation of organisations focused on the exploitation of collected information and associated knowledge. Given the power and value of both the raw data and the derived knowledge, we advocate an open approach to data and intellectual-property rights. By treating user-generated content as well as derived information and knowledge as a common-pool resource, we hypothesise that all participants can be compensated fairly for their input.
To test this hypothesis, we undertake an extensive review of experimental, commercial and social participatory-sensing applications, from which we identify that a decentralised, community-oriented governance model is required to support this open approach. We show that the Institutional Analysis and Design framework as introduced by Elinor Ostrom, in conjunction with a framework for self-organising electronic institutions, can be used to give both an architectural and algorithmic base for the necessary governance model, in terms of operational and collective choice rules specified in computational logic.
As a basis for understanding the effect of governance on these applications, we develop a testbed which joins our logical formulation of the knowledge commons with a generic model of the participatory-sensing problem. This requires a multi-agent platform for the simulation of autonomous and dynamic agents, and a method of executing the logical calculus in which our electronic institution is specified. To this end, firstly, we develop a general purpose, high performance platform for multi-agent based simulation, Presage2. Secondly, we propose a method for translating event-calculus axioms into rules compatible with business rule engines, and provide an implementation for JBoss Drools along with a suite of modules for electronic institutions.
Through our simulations we show that, when building electronic institutions for managing participatory sensing as a knowledge commons, proper enfranchisement of agents (as outlined in Ostrom's work) is key to striking a balance between endurance, fairness and reduction of greedy behaviour. We conclude with a set of guidelines for engineering knowledge commons for the next generation of participatory-sensing applications.Open Acces
Intelligent business processes composition based on mas, semantic and cloud integration (IPCASCI)
[EN]Component reuse is one of the techniques that most clearly contributes to the
evolution of the software industry by providing efficient mechanisms to create quality
software. Reuse increases both software reliability, due to the fact that it uses
previously tested software components, and development productivity, and leads to a
clear reduction in cost.
Web services have become are an standard for application development on cloud
computing environments and are essential in business process development. These
services facilitate a software construction that is relatively fast and efficient, two
aspects which can be improved by defining suitable models of reuse. This research
work is intended to define a model which contains the construction requirements of
new services from service composition. To this end, the composition is based on
tested Web services and artificial intelligent tools at our disposal.
It is believed that a multi-agent architecture based on virtual organizations is a
suitable tool to facilitate the construction of cloud computing environments for
business processes from other existing environments, and with help from ontological
models as well as tools providing the standard BPEL (Business Process Execution
Language). In the context of this proposal, we must generate a new business process
from the available services in the platform, starting with the requirement
specifications that the process should meet. These specifications will be composed of a
semi-free description of requirements to describe the new service.
The virtual organizations based on a multi-agent system will manage the tasks
requiring intelligent behaviour. This system will analyse the input (textual description
of the proposal) in order to deconstruct it into computable functionalities, which will
be subsequently treated. Web services (or business processes) stored to be reused
have been created from the perspective of SOA architectures and associated with an
ontological component, which allows the multi-agent system (based on virtual
organizations) to identify the services to complete the reuse process.
The proposed model develops a service composition by applying a standard BPEL
once the services that will compose the solution business process have been
identified. This standard allows us to compose Web services in an easy way and
provides the advantage of a direct mapping from Business Process Management
Notation diagrams
A systematic approach for detecting faults in agent designs
This thesis proposes a mechanism, including automated tool support, for early-phase defect detection by comparing the plan structures of a belief-desire-intention (BDI) agent design against the following: (1) requirement models, specified in terms of scenarios and goals; and (2) agent communication models. The intuition of our approach is to extract sets of possible behaviour runs from the agent-behaviour models and to verify whether these runs conform to the specifications of the system-to-be. The proposed approach in this thesis is applicable at design time and does not require source code. Our approach is based on the Prometheus agent-design methodology but is applicable to other methodologies that support the same notions. We evaluate the proposed verification framework on designs, ranging from student projects to case studies of industry-level projects. Our evaluation demonstrates that even a simple specification developed by relatively experienced developers is prone to defects, and our approach is successful in uncovering most of these defects. In addition, we conduct a scalability analysis of our methods, and the outcomes reveal that our approach can scale when designs grow in size