Contract Net Protocol

About: Contract Net Protocol is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 606 publications have been published within this topic receiving 13729 citations.

Blockchain Based Grid Operation Services for Transactive Energy Systems.

Abstract: Transactive Energy Systems (TES) are modern electric power systems that enable decentralized owners of power generation assets to engage in energy transactions and provide computing services that improve the performance of power system operation. Blockchain technology is a key enabler of TES, allowing peers to engage in trustless, persistent transactions that are both enforceable and auditable. However, previous work within this context has not adequately explored fraudulent service transactions amongst peers, and its potential negative impact on power system operation. To that end, this paper proposes a blockchain based TES that enables distributed peers (known as agents), to receive incentives for providing grid operation services in the form of voltage regulation, which is a critical operational service. The proposed system i) maintains a trustless reputation rating for each agent that is increased proportionately with each transaction that improves grid operation, ii) utilizes smart contracts to enforce the validity of each transaction and penalizes reputation ratings in case of a fraudulent transaction, iii) automates the negotiation and bidding of agent services by implementing the contract net protocol (CNP) as a smart contract. Experimental results on both simulated and real-world power systems are executed to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed system.

Logistics issues in autonomous food production systems for extended duration space exploration

Abstract: To enable longer space missions, systems for production of food in space will be necessary. The Autonomous Life Support System (ALSS) program of NASA is an on-going research effort in this direction. This research uses intelligent agents to relieve the crew of substantial efforts relating to the food production tasks. In this paper, we propose a contract net protocol approach to schedule transportation activities within this environment. A discrete-event simulation model using QUEST software (by Deneb Robotics, Inc.) is used to represent the flow of the transportation traffic within the system.

Task Assignment for Multi-UAV Using Contract Net Based on Filter Model

Abstract: How to make a faster and more efficient task assignment is a hot issue in the multi-UAVs coordination area, by using the Tactical Digital Information Links (TADILs) to share and exchange combat information in modern aerial warfare. Due to the shortage of traditional contract net, a filter model is proposed according to the negotiation mechanism of contract net protocol theory by R.G. Smith [1], which builds the task assignment model, and defines the restrictions of UAV to extend the framework of contract net. Simulation results show that the extended contract net can significantly reduce the communication traffic and optimize the efficiency of decision-making.

Multi-Robot Foraging Based on Contract Net Protocol

Abstract: Because of high speed, efficiency, robustness and flexibility of multi-agent systems, in recent years there has been an increasing interest in the art of these systems. In competitive multi agent systems, a mechanism is required via which the agents can come to reach an agreement. Contract net protocols are one of the wellknown negotiation protocols in multi-agent systems. In contract net protocol, each agent can be a manager or a contractor. The managers announce available tasks and the contractors bid over the tasks. Then, the managers investigate received bids and decide which contractor could perform the task. The decision is made based on an eligibility function. In this paper, a multi robot foraging problem is considered where mobile robots with limited energy resource try to transport some moving objects to a collection point. The problem is modeled as a contract net system and then solved. Efficiency of the algorithm and optimality of solutions are investigated by provided examples and simulations.

Blockchain Based Transactive Energy Systems for Voltage Regulation

Abstract: Transactive Energy Systems (TES) are modern mechanisms in electric power systems that allow disparate control agents to utilize distributed generation units (DGs) to engage in energy transactions and provide ancillary services to the grid. Although voltage regulation is a crucial ancillary service within active distribution networks (ADNs), previous work has not adequately explored how this service can be offered in terms of its incentivization, contract auditability and enforcement. Blockchain technology shows promise in being a key enabler of TES, allowing agents to engage in trustless, persistent transactions that are both enforceable and auditable. To that end, this paper proposes a blockchain based TES that enables agents to receive incentives for providing voltage regulation services by i) maintaining an auditable reputation rating for each agent that is increased proportionately with each mitigation of a voltage violation, ii) utilizing smart contracts to enforce the validity of each transaction and penalize reputation ratings in case of a mitigation failure and iii) automating the negotiation and bidding of agent services by implementing the contract net protocol (CNP) as a smart contract. Experimental results on both simulated and real-world ADNs are executed to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed system.