Download Cooperative Intelligent Agents

Cooperative Intelligent Agents
Applied Computational Intelligence, sem. 3
I. Aims of the activity
1. To introduce a new domain of Artificial Intelligence, Distributed Artificial Intelligence.
2. To present the field of Intelligent Agents as a new research and application domain of Artificial
Intelligence and a new paradigm for conceptualizing, building and implementing complex software
systems.
3. To induce the necessity of Distributed Artificial Intelligence by studying some relevant practical
applications.
4. To present some “elementary” intelligent activities and how are they achieved by cooperative
agents in multiagent systems.
II. Specific competencies acquired
Professional competencies
1. Understanding the concepts, methods and models used in MultiAgent Systems.
2. Understanding the principles, design and implementation of agent based systems.
3. Learning to conduct incipient original research in Distributed Artificial Intelligence.
Transversal competencies
1.
2.
3.
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5.
III.
The ability to apply multiagent systems in solving real world problems.
Responsible execution of lab assignments, research and practical reports.
Application of efficient and rigorous working rules.
Manifest responsible attitudes toward the scientific and didactic fields.
Respecting the professional and ethical principles.
Course content
1. Introduction.
2. Agents and Intelligent Agents.
3. Multiagent Systems and societies of agents.
4. Practical applications of (intelligent) agents and multiagent systems.
5. Distributed Constraint Satisfaction.
6. Distributed Path Finding.
7. Learning in multiagent systems.
8. Practical applications of Distributed Artificial Intelligence.
IV. Bibliography
Mandatory bibliography
1. Weiss, G. (Ed.): Multiagent Systems: A Modern Approach to Distributed Artificial Intelligence,
MIT Press, 1999 (available at www.cs.ubbcluj.ro/~gabis/weiss/Weiss.zip)
2. Russell, J.S, Norvig, P., Artificial Intelligence- A Modern Approach, Prentice- Hall, Inc., New
Jersey, 1995 (available at www.cs.ubbcluj.ro/~gabis/weiss)
Optional bibliography
1. Serban, G., Sisteme multiagent în Inteligenta Artificiala Distribuita. Arhitecturi si aplicatii. Editura
RisoPrint, Cluj-Napoca, 2006
2. Serban, G., Pop, H.F., Tehnici de Inteligenta Artificiala. Abordari bazate pe Agenti Inteligenti, Ed.
Mediamira, Cluj-Napoca, 2004
3. ResearchIndex, http://www.researchindex.com, http://www.researchindex.org
(several research papers - http://www.cs.ubbcluj.ro/~gabis/cia/Papers)
4. Mitchell, T., Machine Learning, McGraw Hill, 1996
5. Sutton, R.S., Barto, A.G., Reinforcement learning, The MIT Press Cambridge, Massachusetts,
London, England, 1998
6. Wooldrige, M.: Agent-Based Software Engineering. London: Mitsubishi Electric Digital Library
Group, 1997
7. Shoham, Y.: Agent-oriented programming. Artificial Intelligence. 60(1), 1993, pp.51-92.
8. Horia F. Pop, Gabriela Serban, Inteligenta Artificiala, Centrul de Formare Continua si Invatamant
la distanta, Cluj Napoca, 2004
Other bibliography
http://agents.umbc.edu – About agents: applications, projects, open source software, conferences,
publications, presentations, others.
http://agents.media.mit.edu/projects - MIT Software agents group.
www.usus.org/techniques/agents.htm - About Intelligent Agents...
www.agentbuilder.com/AgentTechnology/agentApplications.html - Agent Builder...
http://www.cs.mu.oz.au/~leon/agentlinks.html - Intelligent Agents resource links
Journals
1.
Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems -
2.
http://www.springer.com/computer/artificial/journal/10458
Web Intelligence and Agent Systems - http://wi-consortium.org/html/journal.php
3.
Multiagent and Grid Systems http://www.iospress.nl/loadtop/load.php?isbn=15741702
4.
5.
others
…
Conferences
The International Conference on Intelligent Agent & Multi-Agent Systems, International
conference on Intelligent Agents Web Technologies and Internet Commerce, International Conference
on Intelligent Agent Technology, International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence, AsiaPacific Conference on Intelligent-Agent Technology, and others.
V. Activity and grading
Each student will have to prepare and present the following:
(1) A theoretical research report on an agent-based topic based on some recent research papers:
application of intelligent agents, on some development of an AI technique using intelligent agents,
agent based software engineering, a particular class of agents (interface agents, mobile agents, etc) etc.
a) a written paper of about 10 pages
b) an oral presentation
- an one-page outline of the presentation
The paper will contain theoretical considerations on the selected topic and COMPULSORY
sections regarding:
1. existing or possible applications of the selected topic
2. advantages and disadvantages of the selected approach (here you can list your own opinions)
(2) An existing open source agent development environment (JADE, JACK, others) will be chosen and
a simple agent based system will be designed using the considered framework.
Deadline: Week 7/8 lab
(3) A small project (software) will be implemented and documented. The software will have to
demonstrate the use of multiple agents for some specific task. You will have to completely design the
agent based system, without using an existing agent development environment. At
www.cs.ubbcluj.ro/~gabis/cia/SingleAgentDesignProposal you find my design proposal
for a single agent based system. You may extend this design or use your own design proposal
considering the following:
- use multiple agents (MAS) instead of a single agent
- use a communication between agents: blackboard or message passing (at your choice)
For your concrete simulation you will have to implement a strategy for the agents.
The project will contain:
(a) problem definition and specification;
(b) comments about the solution (problem analysis) and conceptual modeling of the problem
using agents;
(c) a design documentation;
(d) a CD with the electronic version of the source code, test files and any other files required to
test the project.
Identical projects will NOT be considered.
Deadlines
Week 5/6 lab – component (a)
Week 7/8 lab – component (b)
Week 11/12 lab – component (c)
Week 13/14 lab – project demonstration + component (d)
(4) The final exam, to take place in the examinations session.
The final grade will be computed as follows:
15%
20%
15%
20%
30%
Class attendance
Theoretical research report (1) (written and presented)
Practical report (2) (presented and demonstrated)
Software project (3) (written, documented and demonstrated)
Final exam (written paper in exams session)
A minimal final grade of 5 is required to pass the course.
Remarks
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The title of the theoretical report and the chosen presentation date have to be sent to me by end of
week 8.
The time planning for the theoretical report can be consulted at www.cs.ubbcluj.ro/~gabis/cia.
The grade at the theoretical report is composed by considering the following:
o
the paper have to fulfill the requirements of a research paper:
suggestive title corresponding to the contents;
about 10 lines abstract;
introductory section, detailing the purpose of the paper;
a section integrating the topic of the paper in the general field;
o
o
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The grading is done as follows:
o
o
o
o
o
o
•
a few main sections, according to your topic;
concluding remarks and further work section;
bibliography of five to 10 titles; the bibliography entries have to be written correctly
and completely; all the bibliography items have to be cited in the text;
the one-page outline has to correspond both to the written text and to the oral presentation,
and has to be self-explanatory for the intended audience;
the oral presentation itself.
1.0 p = abstract and introduction;
3.0 p = structure of main sections;
1.0 p = concluding remarks;
1.0 p = bibliography accuracy;
1.0 p = one-page outline;
3.0 p = quality of oral presentation.
The written material will have to be provided by e-mail at least one day in advance of the
presentation date.
VI. Time planning
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During the lecture hours on weeks 1-11 you can attend lectures on topics from section II.
The theoretical report (1) will be allocated 30 minutes each (questions and discussions included),
and will be presented during lecture hours on weeks 12 - 14.
The practical report (2) will be presented on the lab hour on week 7/8.
The software (3) will be demonstrated during the lab hours on week 13/14.
VII. Extra session
In the extra session, all activities can be reconsidered, excepting the oral presentations (the
maximum grade for a report is 7).