1,230 research outputs found
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 características individuales
de los agentes (como son su autonomía, 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 mínimo, 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 mensajería 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 versàtil, amb un gran
potencial a l'hora de resoldre problemes complexes a entorns dinàmics i distribuïts, gràcies al seu comportament
flexible i adaptatiu. Aquest potencial no és només degut a les característiques 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 mínim, 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
fàcilment 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
Dynamic Monitoring in PANGEA Platform Using Event-Tracing Mechanisms
The use of distributed multi-agent systems (MAS) have increased in recent years, with the growing potential to handle large volumes of data and coordinate the operations of many organizations. In these systems, each agent independently handles a set of specialized tasks and cooperates to achieve the goals of the system and a high degree of flexibility. Multi-agent systems have become the most effective and widely used form of developing this type of application in which communication among various devices must be both reliable and efficient. One of the problems related to distribute computing is message passing, which is related to the interaction and coordination among intelligent agents. Consequently, a multi-agent architecture must necessarily provide a robust communication platform and control mechanisms. This paper presents the integration of an event-tracing model in an agent platform called PANGEA. Adding this new capability, the platform allows improving the monitoring and analysis of the information that agents can send/receive in order to fulfil their goals more efficiently
The Information Flow Problem in multi-agent systems
[EN] One of the problems related to the multi-agent systems area is the adequate exchange of information within the system. This problem is not only related to the availability of highly efficient and sophisticated message-passing mechanisms, which are in fact provided with by current multi-agent platforms, but also to the election of an appropriate communication strategy, which may also greatly influence the ability of the system to cope with the exchange of large amounts of data. Ideally, the communication strategy should be compatible with how the information flows in the system, that is, how agents share their knowledge with each other in order to fulfill the system-level goals. In this way, MAS designers must deal with the problem of analyzing the multi-agent system with respect the communication strategy that best suits the way the information flows in that particular system. This paper presents a formalization of this problem, which has been coined as the Information Flow Problem, and also presents a complete case study with an empirical evaluation involving four well-known communication strategies and eight typical multi-agent systems.This work was partially supported by MINECO/FEDER TIN2015-65515-C4-1-R and TIN2014-55206-R of the Spanish government.Búrdalo Rapa, LA.; Terrasa Barrena, AM.; Julian Inglada, VJ.; García-Fornes, A. (2018). The Information Flow Problem in multi-agent systems. Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence. 70:130-141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engappai.2018.01.011S1301417
Practical applications of multi-agent systems in electric power systems
The transformation of energy networks from passive to active systems requires the embedding of intelligence within the network. One suitable approach to integrating distributed intelligent systems is multi-agent systems technology, where components of functionality run as autonomous agents capable of interaction through messaging. This provides loose coupling between components that can benefit the complex systems envisioned for the smart grid. This paper reviews the key milestones of demonstrated agent systems in the power industry and considers which aspects of agent design must still be addressed for widespread application of agent technology to occur
Multi Agent Systems in Logistics: A Literature and State-of-the-art Review
Based on a literature survey, we aim to answer our main question: “How should we plan and execute logistics in supply chains that aim to meet today’s requirements, and how can we support such planning and execution using IT?†Today’s requirements in supply chains include inter-organizational collaboration and more responsive and tailored supply to meet specific demand. Enterprise systems fall short in meeting these requirements The focus of planning and execution systems should move towards an inter-enterprise and event-driven mode. Inter-organizational systems may support planning going from supporting information exchange and henceforth enable synchronized planning within the organizations towards the capability to do network planning based on available information throughout the network. We provide a framework for planning systems, constituting a rich landscape of possible configurations, where the centralized and fully decentralized approaches are two extremes. We define and discuss agent based systems and in particular multi agent systems (MAS). We emphasize the issue of the role of MAS coordination architectures, and then explain that transportation is, next to production, an important domain in which MAS can and actually are applied. However, implementation is not widespread and some implementation issues are explored. In this manner, we conclude that planning problems in transportation have characteristics that comply with the specific capabilities of agent systems. In particular, these systems are capable to deal with inter-organizational and event-driven planning settings, hence meeting today’s requirements in supply chain planning and execution.supply chain;MAS;multi agent systems
A survey of security issue in multi-agent systems
Multi-agent systems have attracted the attention of researchers because of agents' automatic, pro-active, and dynamic problem solving behaviors. Consequently, there has been a rapid development in agent technology which has enabled us to provide or receive useful and convenient services in a variety of areas such as banking, transportation, e-business, and healthcare. In many of these services, it is, however, necessary that security is guaranteed. Unless we guarantee the security services based on agent-based systems, these services will face significant deployment problems. In this paper, we survey existing work related to security in multi-agent systems, especially focused on access control and trust/reputation, and then present our analyses. We also present existing problems and discuss future research challenges. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V 2011
Improving the Tracing System in PANGEA Using the TRAMMAS Model
This paper presents the integration of the tracing model TRAMMAS in an agent platform called PANGEA. This platform allows to developed multiagent systems modeled as Virtual Organizations. The concepts of roles, organizations and norms are fully supported by the platform assuring flexibility and scalability. Before TRAMMAS, this platform uses a Sniffer Agent to trace the information reducing its scalability as a centralized mechanism. TRAMMAS proposes the use of event tracing in multiagent systems, as an indirect interaction and coordination mechanism to improve the amount and quality of the information that agents can perceive in order to fulfill their goals more efficiently. Moreover, the event tracing system can help reducing the amount of unnecessary information
Using Norms To Control Open Multi-Agent Systems
Internet es, tal vez, el avance científico más relevante de nuestros días. Entre
otras cosas, Internet ha permitido la evolución de los paradigmas de computación tradicionales hacia el paradigma de computaciónn distribuida, que se
caracteriza por utilizar una red abierta de ordenadores. Los sistemas multiagente
(SMA) son una tecnolog a adecuada para abordar los retos motivados
por estos sistemas abiertos distribuidos. Los SMA son aplicaciones formadas
por agentes heterog eneos y aut onomos que pueden haber sido dise~nados de
forma independiente de acuerdo con objetivos y motivaciones diferentes. Por
lo tanto, no es posible realizar ninguna hip otesis a priori sobre el comportamiento
de los agentes. Por este motivo, los SMA necesitan de mecanismos
de coordinaci on y cooperaci on, como las normas, para garantizar el orden
social y evitar la aparici on de conictos.
El t ermino norma cubre dos dimensiones diferentes: i) las normas como
un instrumento que gu a a los ciudadanos a la hora de realizar acciones y
actividades, por lo que las normas de nen los procedimientos y/o los protocolos
que se deben seguir en una situaci on concreta, y ii) las normas como
ordenes o prohibiciones respaldadas por un sistema de sanciones, por lo que
las normas son medios para prevenir o castigar ciertas acciones. En el area
de los SMA, las normas se vienen utilizando como una especi caci on formal
de lo que est a permitido, obligado y prohibido dentro de una sociedad. De
este modo, las normas permiten regular la vida de los agentes software y las
interacciones entre ellos.
La motivaci on principal de esta tesis es permitir a los dise~nadores de los
SMA utilizar normas como un mecanismo para controlar y coordinar SMA
abiertos. Nuestro objetivo es elaborar mecanismos normativos a dos niveles:
a nivel de agente y a nivel de infraestructura. Por lo tanto, en esta tesis se
aborda primero el problema de la de nici on de agentes normativos aut onomos
que sean capaces de deliberar acercaCriado Pacheco, N. (2012). Using Norms To Control Open Multi-Agent Systems [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/17800Palanci
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