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Showing papers on "Contract Net Protocol published in 2018"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper focuses on distributed optimal scheduling based on multi-agent systems and studies the dynamic decision cycle and the multistage negotiation mechanism based on the contract net protocol to ensure the quality of negotiation.
Abstract: The world is experiencing a new industrial revolution characterized by intelligent manufacturing. Cyber-physical production systems (CPPSs) have become a research focus due to their proposed use as a solution to the development of flexible and reactive systems. The application of current centralized scheduling methods is difficult because of the enhanced precision control mode of a CPPS. Therefore, this paper focuses on distributed optimal scheduling based on multi-agent systems. First, the goals and constraints of the system are set, a two-layer decision model and the required indicators are designed to ensure the overall optimization effect, and the roles and functions of different agents are then set. Second, the dynamic decision cycle and the multistage negotiation mechanism based on the contract net protocol are studied to ensure the quality of negotiation. A rescheduling algorithm is designed to guarantee adaptability in the case of disturbance in the system. Finally, the applicability and superiority of the strategies are demonstrated via experiments and case studies.

42 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The computational experiments show that the EA-MAS, with the integration of shared resource information, is able to provide shared scheduling scheme for distributed manufacturing with a good performance.
Abstract: This paper considers a shared scheduling environment for distributed manufacturing resources. In this paper, we proposed a multi-agent system based approach to promote competition and cooperation among multi-agents and to achieve global optimal scheduling. We first build two multi-agent system (MAS) architectures. One is enterprise multi-agent subsystem (Sub-EMAS) architecture comprises job agents, resource agents and manager agents; the other one is enterprise alliance multi-agent system (EA-MAS) architecture involves the addition of a mediator agent and a scheduling agent. Then we design a Shared Contract Net Protocol (SCNP) to support both the Sub-EMAS and EA-MAS. We propose two heuristic algorithms to solve the scheduling model. The computational experiments show that the EA-MAS, with the integration of shared resource information, is able to provide shared scheduling scheme for distributed manufacturing with a good performance.

37 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The overall results showed that considering uncertainty in task allocation can be a highly advantageous in the disaster environment and such systems can be used to manage and prepare for natural hazards.
Abstract: Agent-based modeling is a promising approach for developing simulation tools for natural hazards in different areas, such as during urban search and rescue (USAR) operations. The present study aimed to develop a dynamic agent-based simulation model in post-earthquake USAR operations using geospatial information system and multi agent systems (GIS and MASs, respectively). We also propose an approach for dynamic task allocation and establishing collaboration among agents based on contract net protocol (CNP) and interval-based Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methods, which consider uncertainty in natural hazards information during agents’ decision-making. The decision-making weights were calculated by analytic hierarchy process (AHP). In order to implement the system, earthquake environment was simulated and the damage of the buildings and a number of injuries were calculated in Tehran’s District 3: 23%, 37%, 24% and 16% of buildings were in slight, moderate, extensive and completely vulnerable classes, respectively. The number of injured persons was calculated to be 17,238. Numerical results in 27 scenarios showed that the proposed method is more accurate than the CNP method in the terms of USAR operational time (at least 13% decrease) and the number of human fatalities (at least 9% decrease). In interval uncertainty analysis of our proposed simulated system, the lower and upper bounds of uncertain responses are evaluated. The overall results showed that considering uncertainty in task allocation can be a highly advantageous in the disaster environment. Such systems can be used to manage and prepare for natural hazards.

31 citations


Book ChapterDOI
24 Sep 2018
TL;DR: This work presents a distributed and scalable drone delivery system based on the contract net protocol for task allocation and the ROS hybrid behaviour planner (RHBP) for goal-oriented task execution.
Abstract: The demand for fast and reliable parcel shipping is globally rising Conventional delivery by land requires good infrastructure and causes high costs, especially on the last mile We present a distributed and scalable drone delivery system based on the contract net protocol for task allocation and the ROS hybrid behaviour planner (RHBP) for goal-oriented task execution The solution is tested on a modified multi-agent systems simulation platform (MASSIM) Within this environment, the solution scales up well and is profitable across different configurations

15 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A model of adaptive service composition in ambient environment based on multi-agent system named Multi Agent System for Adaptive Service Composition (MAS-ASC), based on the Contract Net Protocol, implemented on Java Agent DEvelopment framework platform and tested to economize the consumption of energy in an intelligent lighting system example.
Abstract: The ambient intelligence consists of the integration of computer science technologies in the objects of the environment around us in order to create a smart one Each object in the environment performs a different service as part of achieving a task The adaptive Service composition is a context-aware system used in the situation where the user’s needs cannot be satisfied by a single service but by the combination of several ones One of the main and principal characteristics of ambient environments is the adaptability to the context The multi-agent systems with their characteristics of autonomy, proactivity, mobility and sociability are one of the most promising techniques of service composition and they became a major and significant paradigm for developping ambient systems In this paper, we present a model of adaptive service composition in ambient environment based on multi-agent system named Multi Agent System for Adaptive Service Composition (MAS-ASC) To each object of the environment is associated an agent The set of the agents coordinate their competences taking into account the context in order to perform an activity MAS-ASC is based on the Contract Net Protocol in which the agents exchange their proposals in the form of call for proposal It is implemented on Java Agent DEvelopment framework platform and has been tested to economize the consumption of energy in an intelligent lighting system example

11 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The 2016 edition of the multi-agent programming contest used the agents in the city as its new scenario, which consisted on the execution of various logistics tasks within a realistic city topology using a number of different vehicle types.
Abstract: The 2016 edition of the multi-agent programming contest used the agents in the city as its new scenario, which consisted on the execution of various logistics tasks within a realistic city topology...

7 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
W. L. Yeung1
TL;DR: Compared the performance of a CNP-based task allocation algorithm with its AR variants in a simulation study in manufacturing control, the results show that, while AR can effectively be applied to reduce message traffic under heavy load conditions, there is also evidence that if audience size is only marginally reduced, message traffic can increase as well as decrease.
Abstract: The contract net protocol (CNP) serves as a framework for cooperative distributed problem-solving agents to allocate tasks among themselves. Multi-agent systems (MAS) based on CNP are, however, sus...

4 citations


Book ChapterDOI
27 Oct 2018
TL;DR: A framework that allows application components to stream events to each other to elasticity allows the coordinators to run application components on different devices based on the context, in order to optimize resources such as network usage, response times and battery life.
Abstract: More and more devices are connected to the internet. These devices could be used to help execute applications that otherwise would need to be executed on the cloud or on a system with more computational resources. To execute the application on multiple devices, we will split it up into multiple application components that stream events to each other. In this paper we present a framework that allows application components to stream events to each other. On top of this we present a coordinator system to move application components to other devices. This elasticity allows the coordinators to run application components on different devices based on the context, in order to optimize resources such as network usage, response times and battery life. The coordinators use an adapted version of the Contract Net Protocol which allows them to find a local minima in resource consumption. In order to verify this, three use cases are implemented.

4 citations


Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Aug 2018
TL;DR: The Multi-Agent technique was introduced in cooperation target assignment problem, an improved contract network protocol was introduced, and a mathematical model of cooperation target assignments problem was established.
Abstract: The target assignment problem is a classic problem in military field. Its purpose is choosing the best plan of distribution to get the most benefit and minimum cost while meeting the constraint condition. For the cooperation target assignment problem of missiles, each missile can be regarded as an agent, thus forming a multi-agent system. In this article, some common methods of target assignment were discussed firstly. After that the Multi-Agent technique was introduced in cooperation target assignment problem. And a mathematical model of cooperation target assignment problem was established. Then according to the characteristics and restrictions of target assignment, an improved contract network protocol was introduced. Finally, the simulation based on MATLAB demonstrated that a rational allocation of target was achieved by this algorithm.

3 citations


Book ChapterDOI
06 Sep 2018
TL;DR: An adaptation of CNP for the optimization of emergencies allocation process is described, designed to simultaneously improve the efficiency of the operating theater and also improve its responsiveness in the practice of emergency surgery.
Abstract: This work focuses on a bidding mechanism based on the “Contract Net Protocol” in a multi-agent system for dynamic integrated scheduling of an operating theater. The problem consists of operating theater with several surgical rooms that must allocate, in the best possible way, emergency cases that arise while performing a schedule already in progress. Agents cooperate and coordinate their actions in order to find near-optimal globally effective schedule, able to maintain the optimization of the initial planning while taking into account the disturbances caused by the occurrence, in real time, of unexpected emergencies. The proposed control model is designed to simultaneously improve the efficiency of the operating theater and also improve its responsiveness in the practice of emergency surgery. That leads to a functional module based on multi-Agent system made of several room agents orchestrate by one manager head agent. We emphasize that the architecture integrates two agents based on a mechanism for safeguarding information and learning skills. In short, this article describes an adaptation of CNP for the optimization of emergencies allocation process. The details of system architecture, process strategy and communication aspect between agents are described.

3 citations


Book ChapterDOI
22 Nov 2018
TL;DR: An useful tool to obtain soil moisture maps of agricultural fields and a water distribution model in USOCHICAMOCHA irrigation district located in Boyaca- Colombia, using a GIS and multi-agent concepts are shown.
Abstract: Agriculture is a fundamental pillar in the economy, sustainability and food security. To achive a correct and efficient management of crops, there are strategies, which use the integration of different technologies currently found in engineering, especially electronics and software, to develop methodologies based on measurement, decision support and action on crops. Precision agriculture (PA) is one of those techniques, and it is a strategy used to determine when, where and how to apply the inputs on crops. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are tools that can be used in PA for the information management of agricultural fields, where, interactive maps allow the characterization of crops, soils and to define prescriptions through Decision Support Systems (DSS). In this work, an useful tool to obtain soil moisture maps of agricultural fields and a water distribution model in USOCHICAMOCHA irrigation district located in Boyaca- Colombia, using a GIS and multi-agent concepts are shown. A negotiation strategy based on the Contract Net protocol is activated when there is a scarcity of water resources, defining priorities for the irrigation distribution in a more efficient manner.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
10 Apr 2018
TL;DR: An application of the Contract Net Protocol for task decomposition and task assignment in multi-agent systems is presented and it is shown that it can be used to get the best real-time solution in terms of cost for the assignment of emergency surgery that can happen at any time of the day.
Abstract: The efficient management of a surgical block must allow to the realization of pre-planned surgical procedures but also to cope with all the aleas and disturbances as emergencies or late cancellations and this by adapting dynamically the schedule already in progress. This study focuses on the local cooperative control model to manage the surgical operating room process in the completion phase. More precisely: An application of the Contract Net Protocol (CNP) for task decomposition and task assignment in multi-agent systems is presented; we show that it can be used to get the best real-time solution in terms of cost for the assignment of emergency surgery that can happen at any time of the day. By the use at any time of the auction protocols algorithm called “simulated trading” (ST), the schedule for remaining time can be improved significantly. The solution of the rescheduling problem emerges from local decision-making and problem-solving rules. Since the local cooperative control system will include policies that optimize local performance and responsiveness. MAS solve the problem of dynamic planning by controlling the progress of the process during the day. Thus, it is designed as an online system with anytime algorithms. The proposed control model, which is still lacking today, is required to address uncertainties inherent in the surgical block process. Research focus: distributed task allocation with multi-agent systems

Proceedings ArticleDOI
01 Aug 2018
TL;DR: The simulation result proves that the established distributed multiagent system model of IWS can afford advantage for carrying out the advanced concept technology demonstration of the external, dynamic, complicated and intelligent process.
Abstract: In this paper, multi-agent based modeling and simulation approach is used and multi-agent model of IWS is studied. In order to solve the problems about simulation of intelligent engagement action, dynamic information processing, and changing battlespace environment, we analyzed the problem space, battlespace and information processing of IWS, put forward the multi-agent organization of IWS and the architecture of agents. The cooperative control behavior model of combat principal combat is constructed, and the interaction mechanism and collaborative method of multiagent combat cooperative control are proposed and furthermore set up the elementary approach model of task decomposition and task allocation in this system, the Contract Net Protocol is used to task allocation of multi-agent IWS. The simulation result proves that the established distributed multiagent system model of IWS can afford advantage for carrying out the advanced concept technology demonstration of the external, dynamic, complicated and intelligent process.

Book ChapterDOI
18 Sep 2018
TL;DR: Steps of protocol creation: from mission planning to modem control and modeling with digital imitation model testing (Solving the task of monitoring the seabed area), and creation and testing of communication protocol for µAUVs with hydroacoustic modems is proposed.
Abstract: Results of the work carried out by Saint-Petersburg State Marine Technical University in the framework of the project, connected with complex researches in maintenance of creation of a multi-agent sensory-communication network based on marine robotic platforms (MRP), are presented. In the context of the mentioned works, creation and testing of communication protocol for µAUVs with hydroacoustic modems is proposed. The article describes steps of protocol creation: from mission planning to modem control and modeling with digital imitation model testing (Solving the task of monitoring the seabed area). Within the framework of the concept of a “budget”, limited serial product, functional systems/modules of µAUV are worked out, taking into account the availability of equipment and components (concerning required technical characteristics and their cost). For the selected external appearance and design dimensions of the device, the simulation of hydrodynamic, signal power and energy characteristics were performed. Within the framework of the project, a software and hardware architecture of the information system of the vehicle was developed, as well as a model of interaction between the µAUV, the wave glider and control center. The work results in proposal and testing of µAUVs communication through the water. Simulation results of implementing mission by a group of developed µAUVs can be modeled by ground robots with some software limitations. Based on the results, ways for further work on the subjects are being determined.