Carlos Carrascosa

Hybrid multi-agent architecture as a real-time problem-solving model

This paper presents a multi-agent architecture that facilitates the development of real-time multi-agent systems based on the SIMBA approach. The approach allows the integration of unbounded deliberative processes with critical real-time tasks. CBP-BDI deliberative agents collaborate with ARTIS agents in order to solve real-time problems efficiently. The proposal has been successfully tested and evaluated in a case study based on the use of mobile robots for mail delivery.

Agent-based virtual organization architecture

The purpose of this paper is to present the applicability of THOMAS, an architecture specially designed to model agent-based virtual organizations, in the development of a multiagent system for managing and planning routes for clients in a mall. In order to build virtual organizations, THOMAS offers mechanisms to take into account their structure, behaviour, dynamic, norms and environment. Moreover, one of the primary characteristics of the THOMAS architecture is the use of agents with reasoning and planning capabilities. These agents can perform a dynamic reorganization when they detect changes in the environment. The proposed architecture is composed of a set of related modules that are appropriate for developing systems in highly volatile environments similar to the one presented in this study. This paper presents THOMAS as well as the results obtained after having applied the system to a case study.

Modelling Agents in Hard Real-Time Environments

Over the last few years more complex techniques have been used to develop hard real-time systems, and the multi-agent system paradigm seems to be an appropriate approach to be applied in this area. The temporal restrictions of these systems made necessary to build agents architectures that satisfy these restrictions. A formal Agent architecture to model hard-real time systems is proposed in this paper. A prototype that follows this agent architecture and works in a hard real-time environment has been implemented. Finally, a study case is described to show the design agent process.

An open architecture for service-oriented virtual organizations

Recent technological advances in open systems have imposed new needs on multi-agent systems. Nowadays, open systems require open autonomous scenarios in which heterogeneous entities (agents or services) interact to fulfill the system goals. The main contribution of this paper is the definition of an open architecture and computational model for largescale open multi-agent systems based on a service-oriented approach. This work requires a high-level design of all features and needs for systems of this kind. The new proposed architecture, called THOMAS, is specifically addressed for the design of virtual organizations. A simplified example for the management of a travel agency system, which shows the features of the proposal, is also included.

An execution time planner for the ARTIS agent architecture

The purpose of this paper is to present an approach for integrating new complex deliberative behaviours in a real-time agent architecture, specifically in the ARTIS agent architecture, which is specially designed for hard real-time environments. The new deliberative agent proposed remakes its plans at runtime conserving the system integrity and its real-time feature. The proposed system has been successfully tested in a robotic test environment. This environment consisted of the automated management of the internal and external mail in a department plant, where the main goal was to ease the workload of a mail-robot. The results obtained increased the flexibility and adaptability of the real-time agent while retaining the temporal restrictions.

Applying the ARTIS Agent Architecture to Mobile Robot Control

The agent/multi-agent system paradigm is an important field of Artificial Intelligence. The use of this paradigm in real-world problems is one of the main lines of interest in this area. To do this, it is necessary to make use of agent/multi-agent architectures and artefacts. This paper describes an architecture for real-time agents, an artefact (InSiDE) for the specification of agent-based systems and the application of this architecture for the control of an autonomous mobile robot.

Agent Design Using Model Driven Development

Object-oriented software development methodologies have adopted a model-driven approach to analysis and design phases. Currently, a similar approach is being adopted for Multi-Agent Systems to improve the development process and the quality of the agent-based software. Model-Driven Development is a technique that allows to obtain executable code by means of transformations from models and meta-models. This work presents a transformation process that allows to generate automatically the code of an agent over his execution platform. That is, an agent is developed under the MDD approach in an easy and transparent way for the user. The code obtained from the transformations is executed over Andromeda and JADE-Leap embedded agent platforms.

SIMBA: An Approach for Real-Time Multi-agent Systems

The use of the agent/multi-agent system paradigm has increased sharply as an important field of research within the Artificial Intelligence area. In recent times, the application of this paradigm seems appropriate for solving complex problems which require intelligence and bounded response times. This paper presents Simba : an architecture based on ARTIS agents as its main component for the development of real-time multi-agent systems. The ARTIS agent architecture guarantees an agent response that satisfies all its critical temporal restrictions in a real-time environment. The main feature of SIMBA systems is their applicability for complex, distributed, real-time domains. The architecture allows the communication among agents taking into account their hard temporal restrictions. In order to show the use of systems of this kind, the paper describes the design of a multi-agent system for the distributed intelligent control of a residential building.

Social Emotional Model

This article aims to give a first approach of an emotional model, which allows to extract the social emotion of a group of intelligent entities. The emotional model PAD allows to represent the emotion of an intelligent entity in 3-D space, allowing the representation of different emotional states. The social emotional model presented in this paper uses individual emotions of each one of the entities, which are represented in the emotional space PAD. Using a social emotional model within intelligent entities allows the creation of more real simulations, in which emotional states can influence decision-making. The result of this social emotional mode is represented by a series of examples, which are intended to represent a number of situations in which the emotions of each individual modify the emotion of the group.

Developing Adaptive Agents Situated in Intelligent Virtual Environments

This paper presents a framework specially designed for the execution and adaptation of Intelligent Virtual Environments. This framework, called JACALIVE, facilitates the development of this kind of environments managing in an efficient and realistic way the evolution of parameters for the adaptation of the physical world. The framework includes a design method and a physical simulator which is in charge of giving the Intelligent Virtual Environment the look of the real or physical world, allowing to simulate physical phenomena such as gravity or collision detection. The paper also includes a case study which illustrates the use of the proposed framework.