The challenge of real-time multi-agent systems for enabling IoT and CPS

Calvaresi, Davide; Marinoni, Mauro; Sturm, Arnon; Schumacher, Michael; Buttazzo, Giorgio

doi:10.1145/3106426.3106518

Cited by 87 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Multi-agent systems appeared as a natural paradigm for modelling numerous realworld problems (e.g., health-care [42], smart grid management [69,49], traffic [37], and Internet of Things [18]) as they lend themselves perfectly to the idea of large distributed systems. They combine several disciplines ranging from artificial intelligence, software engineering, economics to social sciences [127].…”

Section: Multi-agent Decision Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-objective multi-agent decision making: a utility-based analysis and survey

Rădulescu

Mannion

Roijers

et al. 2019

Auton Agent Multi-Agent Syst

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The majority of multi-agent system (MAS) implementations aim to optimise agents' policies with respect to a single objective, despite the fact that many real-world problem domains are inherently multi-objective in nature. Multiobjective multi-agent systems (MOMAS) explicitly consider the possible trade-offs between conflicting objective functions. We argue that, in MOMAS, such compromises should be analysed on the basis of the utility that these compromises have for the users of a system. As is standard in multi-objective optimisation, we model the user utility using utility functions that map value or return vectors to scalar values. This approach naturally leads to two different optimisation criteria: expected scalarised returns (ESR) and scalarised expected returns (SER). We develop a new taxonomy which classifies multi-objective multi-agent decision making settings, on the basis of the reward structures, and which and how utility functions are applied. This allows us to offer a structured view of the field, to clearly delineate the current state-of-the-art in multi-objective multi-agent decision making approaches and to identify promising directions for future research. Starting from the execu-

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Section: Multi-agent Decision Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-objective multi-agent decision making: a utility-based analysis and survey

Rădulescu

Mannion

Roijers

et al. 2019

Auton Agent Multi-Agent Syst

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“…Regardless distribution and dimensions, although broadly appreciated, MAS autonomy and flexibility still generate minor concerns about possible evolution in undesired behaviors of inferences and plans. Moreover, depending on the cooperative/competitive nature of the community factors such as trust and reliability are still open challenges heavily affecting the MAS pillars: (i) agent local scheduler, (ii) communication protocol, and (iii) negotiation protocol [3,17].…”

Section: Principles Of Masmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most of these decentralized systems implement a sort of distributed intelligence, in many cases emulating humankind dynamics. For example, in the last decades, Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) gained a crucial role in the development of intelligent distributed systems, often exchanging sensitive data [3]. In this context, accountability and trusted interactions among agents have become mandatory aspects, which entail a number of the art, capturing the application domains, motivations, assumptions, strengths and limitations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-Agent Systems and Blockchain: Results from a Systematic Literature Review

Calvaresi

Dubovitskaya

Calbimonte

et al. 2018

Lecture Notes in Computer Science

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Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) technology is widely used for the development of intelligent distributed systems that manage sensitive data (e.g., ambient assisted living, healthcare, energy trading). To foster accountability and trusted interactions, recent trends advocate the use of blockchain technologies (BCT) for MAS. Although most of these approaches have only started exploring the topic, there is an impending need for establishing a research road-map, as well as identifying scientific and technological challenges in this scope. As a first necessary step towards this goal, this paper presents a systematic literature review of studies involving MAS and BCT as reconciling solutions. Aiming at providing a comprehensive overview of their application domains, we analyze motivations, assumptions, requirements, strengths, and limitations presented in the current state of the art. Moreover, discussing the future challenges, we introduce our vision on how MAS and BCT could be combined in different application scenarios.technical and scientific challenges. Despite many attempts and previous works aiming at developing models and mechanisms to guarantee communications security and trust in MAS [4,5,6], such requirements have not been fully satisfied yet.Recent trends [7,8,9,10] nourish the promising idea of integrating MAS and blockchain technologies (BCT) [11,12], with the expectation of providing BCT features in use-cases where agent systems require them. However, employing a new technology such as blockchain "as-is" and by itself in dynamic and quickly evolving scenarios can represent an unlucky choice. This may be due to several reasons, spanning from fundamental properties of BCT, to application/domain specific constraints. As an example, consider the modification of blockchain code, which can happen through majority consensus. Reaching consensus in a distributed multi-stakeholder network with possible unaligned interests can be considerably complex, and new issues might be introduced as a result [13]. Although effective, some strategic decisions can hinder the evolution of the technology from academic institutions to real-world problems [14].Nevertheless, combining BCT and MAS can represent a win-win solution if properly managed: On the one hand, the adoption and adaption of BCT may fix the security limitations broadly known in MAS literature. On the other hand, BCT can also contribute with features missing in some MAS scenarios (e.g., flexibility). For example, cloud computing systems dealing with potentially "very large datasets" are going towards a process of agentification, exploiting the crucial support of blockchain technology [8]. Considering agents as atomic entities populating P2P communities, the design of a fair scheduling and a general protection of the whole cluster against abusive or malfunctioning nodes is currently one of the main challenges [15]. In particular, in distributed master-less systems with reputation rating across the cluster, the application of multi-level principles of cryptocurrencies has...

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“…Nevertheless, the possibility of having undesired behaviors generates minor concerns. Regardless of the distribution, dimension, and nature of the interactions (e.g., cooperative or competitive), factors such as trust and reliability are still open challenges heavily affecting the whole agent community [8,12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, ethical implications (i.e., opportunities and challenges) are elaborated before concluding the paper.oriented approaches [6]. Instances of such approaches are multi-agent systems (MAS) [7] that recently gained a crucial role in the development of decentralized intelligent systems, often exchanging sensitive data among them [8]. In such a context, accountability and trusted interactions among trustworthy agents are crucial and entail a considerable number of technical and scientific challenges [9,10].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Good, the Bad, and the Ethical Implications of Bridging Blockchain and Multi-Agent Systems

et al. 2019

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The agent based approach is a well established methodology to model distributed intelligent systems. Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) are increasingly employed in applications dealing with safety and information critical tasks (e.g., in eHealth, financial, and energy domains). Therefore, transparency and the trustworthiness of the agents and their behaviors must be enforced. For example, employing reputation based mechanisms can promote the development of trust. Nevertheless, besides recent early stage studies, the existing methods and systems are still unable to guarantee the desired accountability and transparency adequately. In line with the recent trends, we advocate that combining blockchain technology (BCT) and MAS can achieve the distribution of the trust, removing the need for trusted third parties (TTP), potential single points of failure. This paper elaborates on the notions of trust, BCT, MAS, and their integration. Furthermore, to attain a trusted environment, this manuscript details the design and implementation of a system reconciling MAS (based on the Java Agent DEvelopment Framework (JADE)) and BTC (based on Hyperledger Fabric). In particular, the agents' interactions, computation, tracking the reputation, and possible policies for disagreement-management are implemented via smart contracts and stored on an immutable distributed ledger. The results obtained by the presented system and similar solutions are also discussed. Finally, ethical implications (i.e., opportunities and challenges) are elaborated before concluding the paper.oriented approaches [6]. Instances of such approaches are multi-agent systems (MAS) [7] that recently gained a crucial role in the development of decentralized intelligent systems, often exchanging sensitive data among them [8]. In such a context, accountability and trusted interactions among trustworthy agents are crucial and entail a considerable number of technical and scientific challenges [9,10]. Although a number of contributions have been made around this topic, several aspects related to security and trust in MAS are still open challenges [11][12][13].Recent works [14][15][16][17] have fueled the idea of combining MAS and blockchain technologies (BCT) [18,19] in order to address some of these issues. In particular, BCT has the potential for enabling more secure, trusted, accountable, autonomous, and flexible interactions among distributed entities, removing the need for a centralized trusted third party or a trusted reputation handler. A recent systematic review [20] provided an extensive description of previous works and relevant attempts for developing models and technical implementations of BCT powered multi-agent systems. However, even if these promising results provide potential solutions for trust and security challenges in MAS, a number of undesired implications also emerge, generating new concerns that need to be addressed. ContributionIn this paper, we study the implications of pairing MAS and BCT, especially regarding the establishment of reputation mechanisms ...

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The challenge of real-time multi-agent systems for enabling IoT and CPS

Cited by 87 publications

References 33 publications

Multi-objective multi-agent decision making: a utility-based analysis and survey

Multi-objective multi-agent decision making: a utility-based analysis and survey

Multi-Agent Systems and Blockchain: Results from a Systematic Literature Review

The Good, the Bad, and the Ethical Implications of Bridging Blockchain and Multi-Agent Systems

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