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Development of Multi-Agent Systems Infrastructure: A Practical Approach explores the creation of modular frameworks to support the deployment of real-world software applications utilizing multi-agent systems (MAS). Drawing from the author’s hands-on experience with the FLASH-MAS framework-a Fast Lightweight Agent Shell-the book delves into both theoretical models and practical solutions for MAS implementation. It addresses the complexities of deploying autonomous agents across diverse fields such as manufacturing, robotics, health care, and supply chain management, highlighting the shared challenges developers face when managing distributed, networked, or large-scale agent interactions.
The book is organized into three main sections, covering models and languages for MAS, the deployment and interaction between system entities, and practical guidance for implementing robust MAS frameworks. Emphasizing modularity, the author presents adaptable tools and solutions that can be independently utilized for system development and maintenance. Practical issues such as entity lifecycle management, environmental interactions, and system robustness are thoroughly examined, making this resource valuable for both new and experienced MAS developers.
List of contents
1. Introduction: Applications, Challenges and Requirements
2. A comparative study of current MAS frameworks
Part 1: Modeling agents and infrastructures3. The nested-entity model in FLASH-MAS
4. The S-CLAIM agent-oriented programming language
5. The Entity-operation model
Part 2: Interaction and Deployment6. Decentralized communication protocols
7. Leveraging the advantages of web standards
8. Region-based decentralized communication
9. Entity systems deployed over heterogeneous environments
Part 3: Practical aspects in implementing a modern MAS framework10. Complex deployment scenarios
11:. Monitoring and controlling a distributed system
12. Integrating machine learning
About the author
Dr. Andrei Olaru is an Associate Professor with the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest (UNSTPB), and a member of the Artificial Intelligence and Multi-agent Systems Laboratory, specialized in multi-agent systems, ambient intelligence, and context-awareness. He has received a double M.Sc. Degree from University Politehnica of Bucharest (UPB, now UNSTPB) and from University of Nantes, and a double Ph.D. Degree from UPB and University Pierre et Marie Curie (now Sorbonne University). Among other subjects, he teaches a course on Multi-Agent Systems to master students at UNSTPB. He is the coordinator of the Financial Computing Master's Degree at UNSTPB. Dr. Olaru has been the director of 2 national research grants and 1 international grant. He is a member of ACM and a member of the Romanian Association for Artificial Intelligence.
