Integrating BDI agents with Agent-based simulation platforms

Singh, Dhirendra; Padgham, Lin; Logan, Brian

Abstract

Agent-Based Models (ABMs) is increasingly being used for exploring and supporting decision making about social science scenarios involving modelling of human agents. However existing agent-based simulation platforms (e.g., SWARM, Repast) provide limited support for the simulation of more complex cognitive agents required by such scenarios. We present a framework that allows Belief-Desire Intention (BDI) cognitive agents to be embedded in an ABM system. Architecturally, this means that the "brains" of an agent can be modelled in the BDI system in the usual way, while the "body" exists in the ABM system. The architecture is exible in that the ABM can still have non-BDI agents in the simulation, and the BDI-side can have agents that do not have a physical counterpart (such as an organisation). The framework addresses a key integration challenge of coupling event-based BDI systems, with time-stepped ABM systems. Our framework is modular and supports integration off-the-shelf BDI systems with off-the-shelf ABM systems. The framework is Open Source, and all integrations and applications are available for use by the modelling community.

Citation

Singh, D., Padgham, L., & Logan, B. (in press). Integrating BDI agents with Agent-based simulation platforms. Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, 30(6), 1050-1071. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10458-016-9332-x

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 9, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Mar 19, 2016
• Deposit Date: Mar 18, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 19, 2016
• Journal: Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems
• Print ISSN: 1387-2532
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-7454
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1050-1071
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10458-016-9332-x
• Keywords: BDI ; Agent-Based Modelling ; Simulation ; Integration
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/779827
• Publisher URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10458-016-9332-x
• Additional Information: The final publication is available at Springer via http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10458-016-9332-x
• Contract Date: Mar 18, 2016