Agent-based modeling and simulation of Complex Distributed Systems

Abstract

The complexity of Complex Distributed Systems (CODS) is essentially attributed to the inherent autonomy of the sub-systems and the dynamic intricate interactions among the sub-systems. Since Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation (ABMS) is good at modeling and simulating such systems where there are a large number of heterogeneous entities behaving independently, ABMS is well suitable for CODS. This paper identifies ABMS's main differences compared to conventional simulation approaches, and analyzes briefly some important ABMS platforms relevant to CODS. Finally, ABMS of biological systems is discussed as typical of CODS.Index Terms -agent-based modeling, agent-based simulation, complex adaptive system, complex distributed system, multi-agent system.

Fundamentals and architectures of Complex Distributed Systems

“…In manufacturing domain, a novel Process iteration model, named stage-aligned information-substitutive concurrent engineering model (SICE), was put forward for complex product development [31].…”

“…Common examples of CODS include biological body systems, biological society systems, environmental and weather systems, space, universe systems, human body systems, machine systems, traffic/transport systems, human organizational systems, human beings society systems, politic, economic, military systems, to just mention a few. The complexity of CODS is essentially attributed to the inherent autonomy of the sub-systems and the dynamic intricate interactions among the sub-systems, which give rise to the distributing, emergent and self-organizing properties and system-of-systems architectures [31].…”