Skip to main content

The MCS multi-agent testbed: developments and experiments

  • Conference paper
CKBS ’90

Abstract

This paper describes the MCS multiple agent software testbed which has been developed as a research tool in the University of Essex, Department of Computer Science. Recent enhancements to the testbed are noted, and experiments using it are briefly reported and discussed. The experiments particularly concern the relationship between ’situated’ action and action resulting from ’predictive’ or ’strategic’ planning in multi-agent communities, and the impact of changing the content of agents’ social models on their behaviour and collective effectiveness. The experiments are partly oriented to the study of human social systems in prehistory.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ambros-Ingerson J.A. and Steel S. (1988). “Integrating Planning, Execution and Monitoring”. Proceedings of the 1988 Conference of the American Association for Artificial Intelligence, St Paul, Minnesota AAAI, pp 83–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bond A H, and Gasser L (1988). “Readings in Distributed Artificial Intelligence” Morgan Kaufmann: San Mateo, California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouron T, Ferber J, and Samuel F (1990). “MAGES: A Multi-Agent Testbed for Heterogeneous Agents”. Proceedings of Second European Workshop on “Modelizing Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Worlds”. Saint-Quentin en Yvelines–France August 13–16, 1990. pp 219–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burckert H-J and Muller J (1990). “RATMAN: Rational Agents Testbed for Multi-Agent Networks”. Proceedings of Second European Workshop on “Modelizing Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Worlds”. Saint-Quentin en Yvelines–France August 13–16, 1990. pp 241–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carvajal H. (1990) “A Computational Implementation of Actors’ Social Models Using the MCS/IPEM Software Testbed”. M Phil dissertation, Department of Computer Science, University of Essex, Colchester, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Choo Y J (1990) “Enhancements to the MCS/IPEM testbed”. M Sc Computer Studies dissertation. Department of Computer Science, University of Essex.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen M N (1985) “Prehistoric Hunter-Gatherers: the Meaning of Social Complexity”. In “Prehistoric Hunter-Gatherers: The Emergence of Cultural Complexity” (eds. T. Douglas Price and James A Brown) Academic Press. pp 99–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doran J. (1989) “Distributed Artificial Intelligence and the Modelling of Socio-Cultural Systems”. In “Intelligent Systems in a Human Context” (eds Linda A Murray and John T E Richardson). Oxford University Press. pp 71-91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doran J. (1990) “Using Distributed AI to Study the Emergence of Human Social Organisation”. Department of Computer Science Research Memorandum CSM-154, University of Essex, Colchester, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doran J and Corcoran G (1986). “A Computational Model of Production, Exchange and Trade”. In “To Pattern the Past” (eds Voorrips A and Loving S) PACT Vol 11, pp 349–359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farhoodi F et al (In preparation) “The CADDIE Testbed”. Paper to be presented to the 10th UK Planning SIG, Logica (Cambridge) Ltd, April 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasser L, Braganza C and Herman N (1987) “MACE: a Flexible Testbed for Distributed AI Research”. In “Distributed Artificial Intelligence” (ed M N Huhns) Pitman and Morgan Kaufmann: London. pp 119–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins C. (1989) “Meta-Level Planning for Multi-Agent Cooperation”. Proceedings of AISB 89 Conference, Pitman & Morgan-Kaufmann, pp 185–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Y. (forthcoming) M Sc dissertation. Department of Computer Science, University of Essex, Colchester, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Mellars P.A. (1985) “The Ecological Basis of Social Complexity in the Upper Palaeolithic of Southwestern France”. In “Prehistoric Hunter-Gatherers: The Emergence of Cultural Complexity” (eds. T. Douglas-Price and James A Brown) Academic Press. pp 271–297.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sim S. K. (1987) “A Partial Implementation of the Durfee, Lesser and Corkhill Model”. M Sc IKBS dissertation. Department of Computer Science, University of Essex, Colchester, UK

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1991 Springer-Verlag London Limited

About this paper

Cite this paper

Doran, J., Carvajal, H., Choo, Y.J., Li, Y. (1991). The MCS multi-agent testbed: developments and experiments. In: Deen, S.M. (eds) CKBS ’90. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1831-2_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1831-2_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-19649-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-1831-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics