tailieunhanh - Lecture Multiagent systems - Chapter 9: Working together

In the three preceding chapters, we have looked at the basic theoretical principles of multiagent encounters and the properties of such encounters. We have also seen how agents might reach agreements in encounters with other agents, and looked at languages that agents might use to communicate with one another. So far, however, we have seen nothing of how agents can work together. In this chapter, we rectify this. | LECTURE 9: Working Together An Introduction to MultiAgent Systems Working Together Why and how do agents work together? Important to make a distinction between: benevolent agents self-interested agents 9- Benevolent Agents If we “own” the whole system, we can design agents to help each other whenever asked In this case, we can assume agents are benevolent: our best interest is their best interest Problem-solving in benevolent systems is cooperative distributed problem solving (CDPS) Benevolence simplifies the system design task enormously! 9- Self-Interested Agents If agents represent individuals or organizations, (the more general case), then we cannot make the benevolence assumption Agents will be assumed to act to further their own interests, possibly at expense of others Potential for conflict May complicate the design task enormously 9- Task Sharing and Result Sharing Two main modes of cooperative problem solving: task . | LECTURE 9: Working Together An Introduction to MultiAgent Systems Working Together Why and how do agents work together? Important to make a distinction between: benevolent agents self-interested agents 9- Benevolent Agents If we “own” the whole system, we can design agents to help each other whenever asked In this case, we can assume agents are benevolent: our best interest is their best interest Problem-solving in benevolent systems is cooperative distributed problem solving (CDPS) Benevolence simplifies the system design task enormously! 9- Self-Interested Agents If agents represent individuals or organizations, (the more general case), then we cannot make the benevolence assumption Agents will be assumed to act to further their own interests, possibly at expense of others Potential for conflict May complicate the design task enormously 9- Task Sharing and Result Sharing Two main modes of cooperative problem solving: task sharing: components of a task are distributed to component agents result sharing: information (partial results, etc.) is distributed 9- The Contract Net A well known task-sharing protocol for task allocation is the contract net: Recognition Announcement Bidding Awarding Expediting 9- Recognition In this stage, an agent recognizes it has a problem it wants help with. Agent has a goal, and either realizes it cannot achieve the goal in isolation — does not have capability realizes it would prefer not to achieve the goal in isolation (typically because of solution quality, deadline, etc.) 9- Announcement In this stage, the agent with the task sends out an announcement of the task which includes a specification of the task to be achieved Specification must encode: description of task itself (maybe executable) any constraints (., deadlines, quality constraints) meta-task information (., “bids must be submitted by ”) The announcement is then broadcast 9- Bidding Agents that .