Biotope: an integrated framework for simulating distributed multiagent computational systems

The study of distributed computational systems issues, such as heterogeneity, concurrency, control, and coordination, has yielded a number of models and architectures, which aspire to provide satisfying solutions to each of the above problems. One of the most intriguing and complex classes of distributed systems are computational ecosystems, which add an "ecological" perspective to these issues and introduce the characteristic of self-organization. Extending previous research work on self-organizing communities, we have developed Biotope, which is an agent simulation framework, where each one of its members is dynamic and self-maintaining. The system provides a highly configurable interface for modeling various environments as well as the "living" or computational entities that reside in them, while it introduces a series of tools for monitoring system evolution. Classifier systems and genetic algorithms have been employed for agent learning, while the dispersal distance theory has been adopted for agent replication. The framework has been used for the development of a characteristic demonstrator, where Biotope agents are engaged in well-known vital activities-nutrition, communication, growth, death-directed toward their own self-replication, just like in natural environments. This paper presents an analytical overview of the work conducted and concludes with a methodology for simulating distributed multiagent computational systems.     

GENERAL THEORY OF INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS

The basic foundations of the general theory of intelligent systems are constructed in this paper through formalization of the evolution in an open system. Evolution is presented as behavior and self-organization of an open system, and it is assumed that intelligence is given by the laws of evolution. Four laws of self-organization are obtained, depending on the type of open system and its kind of self-organization. The redundancy and entropy of self-organization are obtained as basic evolution characteristics. A pattern recognition and an expert subsystems of an intelligent system are constructed. Discrete and analog intelligent systems have been defined, respectively, as an artificial intelligence system and a system of functional diagnostics.     

Title Paper: Natural computing: A problem solving paradigm with granular information processing

Natural computing, inspired by biological course of action, is an interdisciplinary field that formalizes processes observed in living organisms to design computational methods for solving complex problems, or designing artificial systems with more natural behaviour. Based on the tasks abstracted from natural phenomena, such as brain modelling, self-organization, self-repetition, self evaluation, Darwinian survival, granulation and perception, nature serves as a source of inspiration for the development of computational tools or systems that are used for solving complex problems. Nature inspired main computing paradigms used for such development include artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic, rough sets, evolutionary algorithms, fractal geometry, DNA computing, artificial life and granular or perception-based computing. Information granulation in granular computing is an inherent characteristic of human thinking and reasoning process performed in everyday life. The present article provides an overview of the significance of natural computing with respect to the granulation-based information processing models, such as neural networks, fuzzy sets and rough sets, and their hybridization. We emphasize on the biological motivation, design principles, application areas, open research problems and challenging issues of these models.     

Ecofeedback and Significance Feedback in Neural Nets and in Society

A central theme of both Cybernetics and Systems Research has been the study of complex, richly-interconnected systems, particularly those having properties of self-organization. Although social and economic systems are frequently mentioned in the literature, the systems which have been studied most have been the nervous system and artificial systems of neuron-like elements.     

Evolution of cartesian genetic programs for development of learning neural architecture

Although artificial neural networks have taken their inspiration from natural neurological systems, they have largely ignored the genetic basis of neural functions. Indeed, evolutionary approaches have mainly assumed that neural learning is associated with the adjustment of synaptic weights. The goal of this paper is to use evolutionary approaches to find suitable computational functions that are analogous to natural sub-components of biological neurons and demonstrate that intelligent behavior can be produced as a result of this additional biological plausibility. Our model allows neurons, dendrites, and axon branches to grow or die so that synaptic morphology can change and affect information processing while solving a computational problem. The compartmental model of a neuron consists of a collection of seven chromosomes encoding distinct computational functions inside the neuron. Since the equivalent computational functions of neural components are very complex and in some cases unknown, we have used a form of genetic programming known as Cartesian genetic programming (CGP) to obtain these functions. We start with a small random network of soma, dendrites, and neurites that develops during problem solving by repeatedly executing the seven chromosomal programs that have been found by evolution. We have evaluated the learning potential of this system in the context of a well-known single agent learning problem, known as Wumpus World. We also examined the harder problem of learning in a competitive environment for two antagonistic agents, in which both agents are controlled by independent CGP computational networks (CGPCN). Our results show that the agents exhibit interesting learning capabilities.     

Self-organizing learning array and its application to economic and financial problems

A new self-organizing learning array (SOLAR) system has been implemented in software. It is an information theory based learning machine capable of handling a wide variety of classification problems. It has self-reconfigurable processing cells (neurons) and an evolvable system structure. Entropy based learning is performed locally at each neuron, where neural functions and connections that correspond to the minimum entropy are adaptively learned. By choosing connections for each neuron, the system sets up the wiring and completes its self-organization. SOLAR classifies input data based on weighted statistical information from all neurons. Unlike artificial neural networks, its multi-layer structure scales well to large systems capable of solving complex pattern recognition and classification tasks. This paper shows its application in economic and financial fields. A reference to influence diagrams is also discussed. Several prediction and classification cases are studied. The results have been compared with the existing methods.     

Bacterial colonies as complex adaptive systems

The present work explores bacterial colonies and their individual and social behaviours under the lens of complex adaptive systems. We initially provide a background on the biology of bacteria to describe important phenomena, such as quorum-sensing, individual and collective behaviours, adaptation, evolution and self-organization over the influence of mechanical effects on bacterial systems and connecting scales. We then explore some associations between bacterial colonies and complex adaptive systems by considering components and ownerships of self-organization. The main contribution of this paper places emphasis on individual decision-making and behaviour as a cause of bacterial colonies’ actions, i.e., how self-organization and collective behaviours impact the ability of a bacterial colony to address an environmental stimulus and maintain itself as an open biological and fault-tolerant system. Finally, we conclude the work and provide some comments regarding future research.     

一种新的基于复合弹簧网络的多Agent系统分布式问题求解方法

当多Agent系统（MAS）中Agent之间存在多种复杂的随机的社会交互行为时，当各Agent表现出不同程度的自治性和理性时，难以用现有的方法描述和求解MAS问题，即使对仅仅存在竞争和合作这两种社会交互行为，并且不考虑Agent之间自治程度的本质性差异时，现有的基于结盟的MAS问题求解算法也具有极高的计算复杂性，该文提出一种新的复合弹簧网络模型和方法，利用分布式弹性动力学方程，将MAS分布式问题求解过程转变对应的复合弹簧网络形变过程，这种模型和方法能够处理各种社会交互行为以及Agent不同程度的自治性，分析和仿真实验表明，在计算复杂性和适用性等许多方面，该文的分布并行算法优于文献[7,8]的Shehory-Kraus算法。     

Metasynthesis: M-Space, M-Interaction, and M-Computing for Open Complex Giant Systems

The studies of complex systems have been recognized as one of the greatest challenges for current and future science and technology. Open complex giant systems (OCGSs) are a family of specially complex systems with system complexities such as openness, human involvement, societal characteristic, and intelligence emergence. They greatly challenge multiple disciplines such as system sciences, system engineering, cognitive sciences, information systems, artificial intelligence, and computer sciences. As a result, traditional problem-solving methodologies can help deal with them but are far from a mature solution methodology. The theory of qualitative-to-quantitative metasynthesis has been proposed as a breakthrough and effective methodology for the understanding and problem solving of OCGSs. In this paper, we propose the concepts of M-Interaction, M-Space, and M-Computing which are three key components for studying OCGS and building problem-solving systems. M-Interaction forms the main problem-solving mechanism of qualitative-to-quantitative metasynthesis; M-Space is the OCGS problem-solving system embedded with M-Interactions, while M-Computing consists of engineering approaches to the analysis, design, and implementation of M-Space and M-Interaction. We discuss the theoretical framework, problem-solving process, social cognitive evolution, intelligence emergence, and pitfalls of certain types of cognitions in developing M-Space and M-Interaction from the perspectives of cognitive sciences and social cognitive interaction. These can help one understand complex systems and develop effective problem-solving methodologies.      

ACHIEVING FLEXIBLE AUTONOMY IN MULTIAGENT SYSTEMS USING CONSTRAINTS

Organizations influence many aspects of our lives. They exist for one reason: they can accomplish things that individuals cannot. While recent work in high-autonomy systems has shown that autonomy is a critical issue in artificial intelligence (AI) systems, these systems must also be able to cooperate with and rely on one another to deal with complex problems. The autonomy of such systems must be flexible, in order that agents may solve problems on their own as well as in groups. We have developed a model of distributed problem solving in which coordination of problem-solving agents is viewed as a multiagent constraint-satisfaction planning problem. This paper describes the experimental testbed that we are currently developing to facilitate the investigation of various constraint-based strategies for addressing the coordination issues inherent in cooperative distributed problem-solving domains.     

An analytical workbench for system level multibody dynamics

There has been considerable focus in the research community on developing accurate models, as well as on fast algorithms for solving the equations of motion of multibody systems required for simulating the dynamics of such systems. This paper focuses on the less explored complementary topic of evaluating system level dynamics properties of multibody systems. Examples of such dynamics properties are the system mass matrix, Jacobians and sensitivities of these quantities. These system level quantities manifest the dynamical properties of the system and are important for design, optimization and control. While such system level quantities are often used in theory to describe the underlying mathematical physics of the systems, due to their complexity there is a lack of a systematic methods for computing them when desired. In this paper we describe a computational workbench framework that provides a bridge between theory and the computation of such system level quantities. This workbench framework builds upon the Spatial Operator Algebra (SOA) that has been used for analysis and algorithm development for multibody dynamics. Mathematical operator expressions from the SOA can be transcribed literally to the workbench command line to allow the easy evaluation of complex dynamics quantities. We use a specific Python/C++ implementation of a workbench called PyCraft to illustrate the structure and use of such a workbench. Several examples illustrating operator-based analysis and corresponding PyCraft-based computation are included.     

Emergence of intelligence in next-generation manufacturing systems

In the paper we propose a fundamental shift from the present manufacturing concepts and problem solving approaches towards new manufacturing paradigms involving phenomena such as emergence, intelligence, non-determinism, complexity, self-organization, bottom-up organization, and coexistence with the ecosystem. In the first part of the paper we study the characteristics of the past and the present manufacturing concepts and the problems they caused. According to the analogy with the terms in cognitive psychology four types of problems occurring in complex manufacturing systems are identified. Then, appropriateness of various intelligent systems for solving of these four types of problems is analyzed. In the second part of the paper, we study two completely different problems. These two problems are (1) identification of system in metal forming industry and (2) autonomous robot system in manufacturing environment. A genetic-based approach that imitates integration of living cells into tissues, organs, and organisms is used. The paper clearly shows how the state of the stable global order (i.e., the intelligence) of the overall system gradually emerges as a result of low-level interactions between entities of which the system consists and the environment.     

Managing schema evolution in a container‐based persistent system

Managing schema evolution is a problem every persistent system has to cope with to be useful in practice. Schema evolution consists basically of supporting class modification and dealing with data objects created and stored under the old class definitions. Several proposals have been made to handle this problem in systems that follow a full orthogonally persistent approach, but, until now, there has not been any proposal to support it in container‐based persistent systems. In this paper we describe a schema evolution management system designed for Barbados. Barbados is a complete programming environment which is based on an architecture of containers to provide persistent storage. Barbados does not provide full orthogonal persistence, but, as will be described in this paper, its architecture has several other advantages. Among them is the fact that this model is especially suitable for solving the schema evolution problem. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Unified problem modeling language for knowledge engineering of complex systems

The 90s has seen the emergence of hybrid configurations of four most commonly used intelligent methodologies, namely, symbolic knowledge based systems (e.g. expert systems), artificial neural networks, fuzzy systems and genetic algorithms. These hybrid configurations are used for different problem solving tasks/situations. In this paper we describe unified problem modeling language at two different levels, the task structure level for knowledge engineering of complex data intensive domains, and the computational level of the task level hybrid architecture. Among other aspects, the unified problem modeling language considers various intelligent methodologies and their hybrid configurations as technological primitives used to accomplish various tasks defined at the task structure level. The unified problem modeling language is defined in the form of five problem solving adapters. The problem solving adapters outline the goals, tasks, percepts/inputs, and hard and soft computing methods for modeling complex problems. The task structure level has been applied in modeling several applications in e-commerce, image processing, diagnosis, and other complex, time critical, and data intensive domains. We also define a layered intelligent multi-agent, operating system processes, intelligent technologies with the task structure level associative hybrid architecture. The layered architecture also facilitates component based software modeling process.Work Supported by VPAC grant no EPPNLA002.2001     

Characterizing game dynamics in two-player strategy games using network motifs.

Many complex systems, whether biological, sociological, or physical ones, can be represented using networks. In these networks, a node represents an entity, and an arc represents a relationship/constraint between two entities. In discrete dynamics, one can construct a series of networks with each network representing a time snapshot of interaction among the different components in the system. Understanding these networks is a key to understand the dynamics of real and artificial systems. Network motifs are small graphs-usually three to four nodes-representing local structures. They have been widely used in studying complex systems and in characterizing features on the system level by analyzing locally how the substructures are formed. Frequencies of different network motifs have been shown in the literature to vary from one network to another, and conclusions hypothesized that these variations are due to the evolution/dynamics of the system. In this paper, we show for the first time that in strategy games, each game (i.e., type of dynamism) has its own signature of motifs and that this signature is maintained during the evolution of the game. We reveal that deterministic strategy games have unique footprints (motifs' count) that can be used to recognize and classify the game's type and that these footprints are consistent along the evolutionary path of the game. The findings of this paper have significance for a wide range of fields in cybernetics.     

Forming processes control by means of artificial intelligence techniques

Forming processes are manufacturing processes that use force and pressure in order to modify the shape of a material part until obtaining the final product. The wide range of non-linear factors that drive this sort of processes make them very complex and extremely difficult to be controlled. Traditional control techniques, like PID controllers, have not offered a reliable solution when global control has been pursued and the figure of the operator still remains present in most of the forming facilities. On the other hand, although operators have demonstrated to be a very successful strategy when controlling this type of processes, the actual market evolution towards the fabrication of more complex parts, made of lower formability materials at higher production rates, is decreasing their capacity of reaction when solving the daily problems. Thus, the development of new global control systems based not on traditional control techniques and mathematical models but on the control strategy that has been used successfully for many years, the control through the experience and knowledge is now even more necessary. In the present work, an intelligent control system based on one of the main techniques within the artificial intelligence, expert systems, has been developed. The main purpose of this intelligent control system is to emulate the decisions that expert operators take but in a quicker and more reliable way. The developed intelligent control system has been installed in a blanking facility and very good results have been achieved.     

面向agent的软件开发方法

1.引言随着Internet和Intranet技术的迅猛发展、计算机应用的不断扩大和深入,当前软件系统广泛呈现出分布、自适应、动态可扩展、开放、异构、可成长等复杂性特征,如Internet环境下的信息服务系统、空中交通管制系统等。支持该系统建设的基础软件面临系统的动态可扩展性、自适应性、复杂交互合作、自我成长等一系列新的关键问题的挑战,其软件体系结构和开发方法,较传统软件都将发生深刻变化,从而对软件开发方法、技术、过程和工具等提出了新的要求。     

基于人工生命方法的作战仿真模型研究

简要介绍了人工生命的概念、基本原理与方法，指出它是解决复杂系统的有效途径。作战是典型的复杂自适应系统(CAS)，传统的作战仿真方法(如兰彻斯特方程)将作战视为确定性过程，难以将许多重要的无形因素进行建模。将人工生命方法应用于作战仿真，以细胞自动机为工具，通过多智能体的相互作用来研究系统高层的突现行为，可以更好地揭示作战的本质和作战过程的演化规律。讨论了基于人工生命方法的作战仿真的一般过程和智能体的结构模型，总结了作战仿真新方法的特点，最后展望了今后的研究工作。     

REASONING ABOUT CHANGING STRUCTURE: A MODELING CONCEPT FOR ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS

This paper focuses on reasoning about change within the object-oriented modeling system EMSY. EMSY has been developed to support modeling and simulation in the domains of ecology and biology. Ecological systems are described as entities consisting of a set of attributes. rules, information about composition, environment, and coupling structure. Change takes place as the change of single entities, and is initiated by them. This specific view of systems serves as a base to describe a characteristic phenomenon of ecological systems: the change of system structure.