A UML-based notation for representing MAS organizations

A notation for representing agents' organizations to be implemented using Moise+ and Jason is proposed. For this purpose a UML profile was defined for representing the elements of Moise+ organizational model such as role, mission and group. The proposed notation will be fully illustrated and applied to the classical example provided by the J-Moise+ team.

MetaMeth: A tool for process definition and execution

Nowadays, several different tools are used in Software Engineering; in this work we are mainly interested to those supporting the design phases. These are usually classified in three categories: CASE, CAME, CAPE tools. MetaMeth is a CAME and a CAPE tool at the same time

Metamodel-based metrics for agent-oriented methodologies

A great number of methodologies has been already intro duced in the agent-oriented software engineering field. Recently many of the authors of these methodologies also worked on their fragmentation thus obtaining portions (often called method or process fragments) that may be composed into new methodologies. The great advancement in this field, however does not correspond to equivalent results in the evaluation of the methodologies and their fragments. It is, for instance, difficult to select a fragment in the composition of a new methodology and to predict the methodology’s resulting features. This work introduces a suite of metrics for evaluating and comparing entire methodologies but als…

Designing a problem specific design process for multi-agent systems

Building agents with agents and patterns

The use of design patterns proved successful in lowering the development time and number of errors when producing software with the object-oriented paradigm. Now the need for a reuse technique is occurring for the emergent agent paradigm, for which a great effort is currently spending in methodology definitions. In this work we present our experiences in the identification, description, production and use of agents patterns. A repository of patterns was enriched during these years so to request a classification criteria and a documentation template useful to help user during the selection

A method for identifying objectives and metrics of agent-based simulation studies

Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation (ABMS) is a promising approach for effectively analyzing, and under- standing complex systems. To date, only few method- ological approaches have been proposed in order to de- sign credible and correct simulation studies. Each of them commits the identification of objectives and met- rics of the simulation study to the expertise of the de- signer. In this paper, we propose a GQM-based heuris- tic for overcoming the lack of appropriate guidelines able to lead designers in properly capturing and representing the simulation objectives and metrics. Such a heuris- tic exploits the power of an ontological representation of the problem domain to highlight key el…

From PASSI to agile PASSI: Tailoring a design process to meet new needs

From several years we are developing robotic multiagent systems according to well defined design methodologies. These methodologies evolved over time because of the changes in the operating environments (robotic hardware and software platforms) and specific missions accomplished by our robots. In the last four years we used PASSI (Process for Agent Societies Specification and Implementation) obtaining good results but, the growing experience and day by day accelerating changes in requirements suggested us to find a new and more versatile approach. In this context we developed the Agile PASSI methodology discussed in this paper; it is an agile process built up capitalizing all the experience…

A possible approach for implementing self-awareness in JASON

In Philosophy, the term awareness is often associated to theories of consciousness and self-referential behavior. In computer science, the awareness is a topic of increasing relevance in both Software Engineering and Artificial Intelligence, being closely related to autonomy and proactiveness.,We can distinguish two orders of awareness: the first order is the awareness of the environment also known as context-awareness; conversely, self-awareness is a higher order awareness (knowledge about one's own mental states).,Nowadays, many agent oriented languages offer native instruments to implement context-awareness. However, self-awareness is not adequately supported and it requires further cons…

An agent-based system for maritime search and rescue operations

Maritime search and rescue operations are critical missions involving personnel, boats, helicopter, aircrafts in a struggle against time often worsened by adversary sea and weather conditions. In such a context, telecommunication and in- formation systems may play a crucial role sometimes concurring to successfully accomplish the mission. In this paper we present an application able to localize the vessel who has launched a rescue request and to plan the most effective path for rescue assets. The application has been realised as a distributed and open multi-agent system deployed on rescue vehicles as well as on a land maritime stations of the Italian Coast Guard. The system is going to be t…

Towards a Methodology for Designing Artificial Conscious Robotic Systems

Engineering artificial conscious robotic systems, able to perceive, think and act in an unstructured environment is a very challenging issue. Basing on the results of the experiences made in the latest years about modeling the perception loop of a robot and about the creation of ad-hoc methodologies for engineering complex systems, we developed an initial model of an artificial conscious system and extended a well known methodology (PASSI) for engineering the elements we identified as composing such a system. Copyright © 2009, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. All rights reserved.

Collaboration Engineering Framework to Support New Product Development in the Automobile Industry

Agile PASSI: An agile process for designing agents

We have been developing robotic multi-agent systems for several years according to a well defined methodology (PASSI) obtaining good results, but day by day needs of a more versatile approach for designing software in a research context suggested us to find out a new methodology. A solution to our problems is represented by the Agile version of the PASSI methodology we present in this paper. We built this agile methodology by exploiting all the experiences done with conventional PASSI; it is supported by specific tools allowing patterns reuse and automatic production of some design documentation.