Expectation-Oriented Analysis and Design

A key challenge for agent-oriented software engineering is to develop and implement open systems composed of interacting autonomous agents. On the one hand, there is a need for permitting autonomy in order to support desirable system properties such as decentralised control. On the other hand, there is a need for restricting autonomy in order to reduce undesirable system properties such as unpredictability. This paper introduces a novel analysis and design method for open agent-oriented software systems that aims at coming up to both of these two contrary aspects. The characteristics of this method, called EXPAND, are as follows: (i) it allows agents a maximum degree of autonomy and restricts autonomous behaviour only if necessary (ii) it uses systemlevel expectations as a key modelling abstraction and as the primary level of analysis and design; and (iii) it is sociologically grounded in Luhmann's systems theory. The application of EXPAND is illustrated in a "car-trading platform" case study

Stress response function of a two-dimensional ordered packing of frictional beads

We study the stress profile of an ordered two-dimensional packing of beads in response to the application of a vertical overload localized at its top surface. Disorder is introduced through the Coulombic friction between the grains which gives some indeterminacy and allows the choice of one constrained random number per grain in the calculation of the contact forces. The so-called `multi-agent' technique we use, lets us deal with systems as large as $1000\times1000$ grains. We show that the average response profile has a double peaked structure. At large depth $z$, the position of these peaks grows with $cz$, while their widths scales like $\sqrt{Dz}$. $c$ and $D$ are analogous to `propagation' and `diffusion' coefficients. Their values depend on that of the friction coefficient $\mu$. At small $\mu$, we get $c_0-c \propto \mu$ and $D \propto \mu^\beta$, with $\beta \sim 2.5$, which means that the peaks get closer and wider as the disorder gets larger. This behavior is qualitatively what was predicted in a model where a stochastic relation between the stress components is assumed.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures, accepted version to Europhys. Let

An Agent-Based Approach to Self-Organized Production

The chapter describes the modeling of a material handling system with the production of individual units in a scheduled order. The units represent the agents in the model and are transported in the system which is abstracted as a directed graph. Since the hindrances of units on their path to the destination can lead to inefficiencies in the production, the blockages of units are to be reduced. Therefore, the units operate in the system by means of local interactions in the conveying elements and indirect interactions based on a measure of possible hindrances. If most of the units behave cooperatively ("socially"), the blockings in the system are reduced. A simulation based on the model shows the collective behavior of the units in the system. The transport processes in the simulation can be compared with the processes in a real plant, which gives conclusions about the consequencies for the production based on the superordinate planning.Comment: For related work see http://www.soms.ethz.c