Re: Multi Agent Simulation

[Paul Johnson]

Kanagaraj Krishna wrote:
> Hi, 
>     I'm Kanagaraj Krishna from Malaysia. I'm currently doing my 
>  master's research in Computer Science. My area of interest is 
>  into trust in Multi Agent environment. 
>
>
>     Currently looking into designing a new trust management model 
>  for use in multi agent trading environment. Each agent/multi agent system will have their own database to keep their trust ratings and past trading data, in this management model. 
>
>
>     I'm planning to do a simulation too, in order to test and 
>  analyze the behaviour of the new model. For this I want to 
>  analyse and compare existing simulation (platform/tool) and 
>  justify picking a suitable (multi agent environment where agents 
>  and multi agent system exist) one for my project. I need expertise 
>  advise on this area. This are my questions :
>
>
>  -I read about SWARM a bit. Would it be suitable for my purpose? Is 
>   there any papers or work comparing simulation tools such as 
>   ECHO,SWARM,BRAHMS and etc,because I need to justify my decision. 
Sorry, don't know what Brahms is.  I believe Echo was a predecessor to 
Swarm at SFI.
>  -My agents and multi agent system will have their own rules and 
>   reasoning. Is this possible using Swarm?
Yes

>  -The agents and multi agent system in my model will have to 
>   communicate with each other in order to make decisions (getting 
>   recommendation form others to form trading partners). Is this 
>   possible in Swarm.
Yes. I have several working examples that do just that.  Each agent 
keeps a Swarm Map in which it files "memory" objects, one for each other 
agent it meets.  Then it updates those memories.

>  -Can an environment where each agent has databases,  be simulated 
>   using Swarm?
Yes, but you have to write your own database class.  That's what I do.

Pietro Terna's research in the book reviewed here might be a place to start:
http://jasss.soc.surrey.ac.uk/4/2/reviews/johnson.html
He recommends creating one data object to store info for all agents. 
Swarm's ftp has his code


>  -Can anybody recommend papers or sources that can help me in doing 
>   the needed comparison simulation platform&tool. 

I've got this long standing project about people who meet each other and 
form opinions. It is described in several projects, but this one I think 
is the most complete statement:

http://lark.cc.ukans.edu/~pauljohn/ResearchPapers/APSA01/

There's a slightly older html version and the newest one is
http://lark.cc.ukans.edu/~pauljohn/ResearchPapers/APSA01/JohnsonHuckfeldt-20011204.pdf
for that I have no html


>                   ==================================
--
Paul E. Johnson                       email: address@hidden
Dept. of Political Science            http://lark.cc.ku.edu/~pauljohn
University of Kansas                  Office: (785) 864-9086
Lawrence, Kansas 66045                FAX: (785) 864-5700


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