© Yilmaz “Agent-Directed Simulation – Course Outline” 1 Course Outline Dr. Levent Yilmaz M&SNet: Auburn M&S Laboratory Computer Science & Software Engineering Auburn University, Auburn, AL COMP8700 Agent-Directed Simulation

© Yilmaz “Agent-Directed Simulation – Course Outline” 2 Aim Course Description: This course has dual objectives: – (1) acquiring modeling and simulation skills to develop simulation-based solutions to analyze complex systems that can be modeled by discrete event methodology and – (2) ability to use software agents to not only represent intelligent entities within simulation models but also to enhance modeling and simulation environments. Agent theoretic fundamental model design principles and conceptual frameworks are overviewed. Course Web page:

© Yilmaz “Agent-Directed Simulation – Course Outline” 3 Aim Course Objectives: Having successfully completed this course, students will be able to – (1) solve complex problems by way of using computational agent theory and methodology under the discrete-event simulation framework, –(2) simulate agent systems using a discrete-event model development environment (i.e. DEVS), –(3) demonstrate advanced knowledge in the modeling and simulation of agent technologies, –(4) participate in agent-based simulation model design and development projects.

© Yilmaz “Agent-Directed Simulation – Course Outline” 4 Recommended Texts: There is no required text for this course. A number of selected papers will overviewed and discussed in class. The following are the recommended texts. Adaptive Agents, Intelligence, and Emergent Human Organization: Capturing Complexity through Agent-Based Modeling, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, Ferber J. (1999). Multi-Agent Systems: An Introduction to Distributed Artificial Intelligence, Addison-Wesley. Zeigler et al. (2000). Theory of Modeling and Simulation. Academic Press Jerry Banks (1998). Handbook of Simulation. Wiley-Interscience. Zeigler P. B. and H. Sarjoughian (2003) Introduction to DEVS Modeling and Simulation with Java (DEVS Java tutorial). Michael Wooldridge, (2004). An Introduction to Multi-Agent Systems. Wiley. Jennings, N. R. and Wooldridge, M. J. (1998). Agent Technology: Foundations, Applications, and Markets. Berlin: Springer-Verlag..

© Yilmaz “Agent-Directed Simulation – Course Outline” 5 Course Requirements: 1. Final Examination (20%) – Final exam will be a closed-book comprehensive exam. 2. Project (40%) – There will be one substantial research project. The assignment entails the proposal as well as development of an agent-directed simulation project. Each student is responsible for sketching project’s requirements, identifying the critical simulation design issues, and performing a agent-directed simulation study. Students will be required to produce design documentation, simulation implementation, and present their results. Additional information concerning the project will be presented in class. 4. Research Paper (20%) – The technical research paper will be based on the agent simulation project. 5. Participation (20%) – Students are expected to participate in class discussions, make presentations based on the assigned papers and group projects.

© Yilmaz “Agent-Directed Simulation – Course Outline” 6 Research Project A significant component of this class is the completion of a substantial research project on agent-directed simulation. The deliverables include the following artifacts: –(1) Formulated problem definition - the formulated problem definition entails the brief description of the scope and significance of the problem. –(2) Conceptual model - the conceptual model involves the formalization of the problem domain that includes entities (object and agents), their interrelationships, attributes, laws of the system, rules of interaction, constraints etc.

© Yilmaz “Agent-Directed Simulation – Course Outline” 7 Research Project –(3) Design model - the design model involves the formulation of the simulation realization domain. Model specification will be presented in terms of a formal or semi-formal language (i.e. UML) for documentation purposes. –(4) Implementation (simulation) model - The simulation model is the executable programmed model in a simulation programming language (i.e., DEVS, RePast). –(5) Design of experiments and experimentation - this phase of the project involves (a) formulating a plan to gather the desired information based on the objectives of the study, (b) comparison of different operating policies, sensitivity analysis etc.

© Yilmaz “Agent-Directed Simulation – Course Outline” 8 Research Paper Each student is expected to develop a paper that is based on the simulation study conducted during the research project. While the contents, structure, and methodology presented in the paper strongly depends on the type and nature of the project, the paper is expected to include at least the following sections: (1) abstract, (2) introduction, (3) related work, (4) domain-specific propositions and hypothesis, (5) conceptual model, (6) design and implementation overview, (7) simulation results and discussion, (8) conclusions. I encourage you to overview available technical writing resources to improve your writing skills. (i.e.,

© Yilmaz “Agent-Directed Simulation – Course Outline” 9 Potential Topics DADE: DEVS-Based Agent Development Environment Simulation of Agent Mechanisms using DEVS Human Behavior Modeling and Simulation Simulation Modeling of Conflict Systems (Power Transition and Lateral Pressure Theories) Network Simulation Simulation of Organizations (Software Process Simulation) Simulation Modeling of Biomedical Systems Ecosystem Simulation, Intelligent Transportation Systems Simulation, Holonic Manufacturing Systems

© Yilmaz “Agent-Directed Simulation – Course Outline” 10 Seminar Topics (A list of papers will be provided) Agent Simulation in Computational Economics Simulation Modeling of Intelligent Manufacturing Systems Simulation Modeling of Human Behavior Agent Simulation for Ecosystems Agent Simulation for Intelligent Transportation Systems Agent Simulation in Computational Biology Agent Simulation and Computational Organization Theory Agent Simulation and AI Methods for Conflict Analysis, Resolution, and Management