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Multi-agent Based Simulation: Where Are the Agents?

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Multi-Agent-Based Simulation II (MABS 2002)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 2581))

Abstract

This paper is devoted to exploring the relationships between computational agents, as they can be found in multi-agent systems (MAS) or Distributed Artificial Intelligence (DAI), and the different techniques regrouped under the generic name “multi-agent based simulation” (MABS). Its main purpose is to show that MABS, despite its name, is in fact rarely based on computational agents. We base our demonstration on an innovative presentation of the methodological process used in the development of current MABS systems. This presentation relies on the definition of the different roles involved in the design process, and we are able to show that the notion of “agent”, although shared at a conceptual level by the different participants, does not imply a systematic use of computational agents in the systems deployed. We then conclude by discussing what the use of computational agents, based on the most interesting research trends in DAI or MAS, might provide MABS with.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. LIP6, Université Paris 6, 4 Place Jussieu, 75252, PARIS CEDEX 05

    Alexis Drogoul, Diane Vanbergue & Thomas Meurisse

Authors
  1. Alexis Drogoul
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  2. Diane Vanbergue
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  3. Thomas Meurisse
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Polytechnical School Computer Engineering Department Intelligent Techniques Laboratory, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Luciano Gualberto, 158, travessa 3, 05424-970, São Paulo, Brazil

    Jaime Simão Sichman

  2. IRRI-Cirad, P.O. Box 9-159, Chatuchak, 10900, Bangkok, Thailand

    Françcois Bousquet

  3. Department of Software Engineering and Computer Science, Blekinge Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 520, 372 25, Ronneby, Sweden

    Paul Davidsson

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© 2003 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Drogoul, A., Vanbergue, D., Meurisse, T. (2003). Multi-agent Based Simulation: Where Are the Agents?. In: Simão Sichman, J., Bousquet, F., Davidsson, P. (eds) Multi-Agent-Based Simulation II. MABS 2002. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 2581. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-36483-8_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-36483-8_1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-00607-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-36483-2

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