1. Conception de modèles pour la simulation
Exercices de familiarisation

2. How does one program a Mas?

3. Methodology
Internal structure of the agents
Communication
Control

4. Communication
Questions
Who communicate with whom?
What language?

5. Coordination and control
Questions
Who does what ?
How are the actions scheduled ?
How are the conflicts resolved ?

6. Without communication
Planes coordinate without communication.
B: conflict with C
B: I go up
C: conflict with B
C: I stabilize the level
A: Conflict with B
A: I turn right
B Conflict with A
B: I turn right

7. With communication A: I go to Montpellier B I go to Chiang Mai
B: Do I go up?
C: I go to Djakarta
A: No you go left ,
I go up
B: ok

8. Without communication
Agent structure
Sensors
Environmental change
Plan generator
Models of the world
Possible plans
Execution
Model assesment Controler

9. With communication Planes Communication Sensors Environmental change
Plan generator
Models of the world
Possible plans
Execution
Model assesment Controler

10. Three main issues for reactive agents
Representation of space and environment
Actions and perceptions
Decision between perception and action

11. Environment A space and a medium for interactions
The perception of an agent is the result of the actions of other agents (externalities)

12. Interactions Interactions through a field of forces
Interactions through the use of marks
Interactions through actions with neighbors

13. A field of forces
Reynolds Boids
Fish shoal (Mesle)
Planes (Zeghal)

14. The use of marks
The relation with environment is linked to the perception of marks,
The action is the use of marks
Examples
Foraging robots
Foraging ants

15. Without cooperation Explore : randomly
Find : if I perceive a mine, then I take
Carry: go back to the base
Base : drop what I am carrying

16. With marks Robots use marks
Follow Mark : If not carrying and perceive mark then follow marks

17. Result

18. With explicit cooperation
Help: if perceive agent carrying then propose help
Exchange : If help proposed then give the resource

19. Action on the neighbors
Assess the state of the neighbors and the pressure
Analyze the state and pressure and choose the best action
Move and put pressure on the neighbours

20. Cognitive agents A cognitive agent
has memory
has beliefs and skills
has goals
can communicate
Some parts of knowledge are facts. Other parts are models of the world.

21. Three main questions for a cognitive MAS
Decision
Organization
Communication

22. Decision Choices What are the formalisms? Knowledge and beliefs
Objectives
Computation
What are the formalisms?

23. Organization Who can do the task ? Who has access to resources ?
Who can communicate ?

24. Communication Agents communicate to inform themselves
to distribute the tasks
to resolve the conflicts
to learn
The problem of languages

25. From goals to intentions (commitment)
Blinded : Until the agent believes it has accomplished its intention
Single-minded : As long as it thinks it is possible
Open minded : As soon as it has the goal

26. Some strategies for negotiation
Always concede
Be competitive
Be cooperative : look for a mutually acceptable solution
Inaction
Break

27. From individual to collective with cognitive agents.
Reactive agents often coordinate through the environment
Two approaches for cognitive agents
define mutual beliefs, joint desires and joint intentions
define norms and conventions.