Multi-agent Technology Research Articles

An Integrated SEM and Entropy Approach to Analyse the Impact of Multi-Agent Technology on the Quality of High-Tech Products

An Integrated SEM and Entropy Approach to Analyse the Impact of Multi-Agent Technology on the Quality of High-Tech Products

Evolving role of multi-agent technology in product design and development in manufacturing industry using FMCDM techniques

Evolving role of multi-agent technology in product design and development in manufacturing industry using FMCDM techniques

Evolving Role of Multi-Agent Technology in Product Design and Development in Manufacturing Industries using FMCDM Techniques

Evolving Role of Multi-Agent Technology in Product Design and Development in Manufacturing Industries using FMCDM Techniques

Research on Collaborative Mechanism for Emergency Medical Supplies Reserve and Supply Based on Scenario Analysis

Ensuring an adequate reserve, timely supply, and rational distribution of emergency medical supplies in the aftermath of public health emergencies is a critical factor in enhancing emergency response capabilities. To address this issue, this paper first establishes a scenario analysis model for emergency medical supply reserve and supply systems based on convolutional neural networks, using case attribute similarity. Subsequently, by analyzing the information sharing mechanism of reserve and supply entities, a multi-agent emergency medical supply reserve and supply system framework is constructed. Different scenarios such as material demand, entity responsibility, and emergency objectives are considered both vertically and horizontally to achieve resource balance and establish collaborative mechanisms for human, material, financial, and information resources. Taking the emergency medical supply reserve and supply during the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study, simulations are conducted using the Simpy platform. The results demonstrate that 1）scenario analysis models can ensure precise provisioning of emergency medical supplies; 2) the utilization of multi-agent technology promotes intelligent management of emergency medical supplies; 3) collaborative operational mechanisms reduce the risk of disruptions in the emergency medical supply chain. Finally, targeted measures are proposed for the assurance of emergency medical supply reserves and distribution to mitigate the impact of unforeseen events on societal stability.

Analyzing the role of Multi-Agent Technology in minimizing breakdown probabilities in Manufacturing Industries

Purpose Every company or manufacturing system is vulnerable to breakdowns. This research aims to analyze the role of Multi-Agent Technology (MAT) in minimizing breakdown probabilities in Manufacturing Industries.Design/methodology/approach This study formulated a framework of six factors and twenty-eight variables (explored in the literature). A hybrid approach of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Technique (MCDM) was employed in the framework to prioritize, rank and establish interrelationships between factors and variables grouped under them.Findings The research findings reveal that the “Manufacturing Process” is the most essential factor, while “Integration Manufacturing with Maintenance” is highly impactful on the other factors to eliminate the flaws that may cause system breakdown. The findings of this study also provide a ranking order for variables to increase the performance of factors that will assist manufacturers in reducing maintenance efforts and enhancing process efficiency.Practical implications The ranking order developed in this study may assist manufacturers in reducing maintenance efforts and enhancing process efficiency. From the manufacturer’s perspective, this research presented MAT as a key aspect in dealing with the complexity of manufacturing operations in manufacturing organizations. This research may assist industrial management with insights into how they can lower the probability of breakdown, which will decrease expenditures, boost productivity and enhance overall efficiency.Originality/value This study is an original contribution to advancing MAT’s theory and empirical applications in manufacturing organizations to decrease breakdown probability.

MAS-Cloud+: A novel multi-agent architecture with reasoning models for resource management in multiple providers

Nowadays, scientific and commercial applications are often deployed to cloud environments requiring multiple resource types. This scenario increases the necessity for efficient resource management. However, efficient resource management remains challenging due to the complex nature of modern cloud-distributed systems since resources involve different characteristics, technologies, and financial costs. Thus, optimized cloud resource management to support the heterogeneous nature of applications balancing cost, time, and waste remains a challenge. Multi-agent technologies can offer noticeable improvements for resource management, with intelligent agents deciding on Virtual Machine (VM) resources. This article proposes MAS-Cloud+, a novel agent-based architecture for predicting, provisioning, and monitoring optimized cloud computing resources. MAS-Cloud+ implements agents with three reasoning models including heuristic, formal optimization, and metaheuristic. MAS-Cloud+ instantiates VMs considering Service Level Agreement (SLA) on cloud platforms, prioritizing user needs considering time, cost, and waste of resources providing appropriate selection for evaluated workloads. To validate MAS-Cloud+, we use a DNA sequence comparison application subjected to different workload sizes and a comparative study with state-of-the-art work with Apache Spark benchmark applications executed on the AWS EC2. Our results show that to execute the sequence comparison application, the best performance was obtained by the optimization model, whereas the heuristic model presented the best cost. By providing the choice among multiple reasoning models, our results show that MAS-Cloud+ could provide a more cost-effective selection of the instances reducing ≈58% of execution average cost of WorkdCount, Sort, and PageRank BigDataBench benchmarking workloads. As for the execution time, the WorkdCount and PageRank present reduction, the latter with ≈58%. The results indicate a promising solution for efficient cloud resource management.

Collaborative Search Model for Lost-Link Borrowers Information Based on Multi-Agent Q-Learning

To reduce the economic losses caused by debt evasion amongst lost-link borrowers (LBs) and improve the efficiency of finding information on LBs, this paper focuses on the cross-platform information collaborative search optimization problem for LBs. Given the limitations of platform/system heterogeneity, data type diversity, and the complexity of collaborative control in cross-platform information search for LBs, a collaborative search model for LBs’ information based on multi-agent technology is proposed. Additionally, a multi-agent Q-learning algorithm for the collaborative scheduling of multi-search subtasks is designed. We use the Q-learning algorithm based on function approximation to update the description model of the LBs. The multi-agent collaborative search problem is transformed into a reinforcement learning problem by defining search states, search actions, and reward functions. The results indicate that: (i) this model greatly improves the comprehensiveness and accuracy of the search for key information of LBs compared with traditional search engines; (ii) during searching for the information of LBs, the agent is more inclined to search on platforms and data types with larger environmental rewards, and the multi-agent Q-learning algorithm has a stronger ability to acquire information value than the transition probability matrix algorithm and the probability statistical algorithm for the same number of searches; (iii) the optimal search times of the multi-agent Q-learning algorithm are between 14 and 100. Users can flexibly set the number of searches within this range. It is significant for improving the efficiency of finding key information related to LBs.

Real-time multi-agent fleet management strategy for autonomous underground mines vehicles

ABSTRACT This paper proposes a real-time multi-agent fleet management strategy for autonomous underground mines vehicles. The fleet management strategy is based on multi-agent technology and includes a novel variation of the Contract-Net protocol. This paper also proposes a set of conflict management procedures to deal with the narrow nature of underground drifts, as well as the sequencing of trucks’ loading activities. This strategy is tested in a simulated environment based on an industrial case study. Both the strategy and the test environment were implanted using AnyLogic. More specifically, the fleet management activities addressed are dispatching, routing and traffic management of mining vehicles, which deal respectively with the assignment of the next destination to a vehicle that has just completed a task; the choice of the route to be followed to reach the selected destination; and traffic coordination in the underground transportation network, made up of one-lane bi-directional road segments. To evaluate the proposed solution, an agent-based simulation model of a Canadian underground gold mine is implemented with AnyLogic. Results show that the proposed coordination strategy outperform the one currently employed strategy by the mine under investigation.

Critical factors of multi-agent technology influencing manufacturing organizations: an AHP and DEMATEL-oriented analysis

ABSTRACT The current research aims to analyse the critical factors of Multi-Agent Technology (MAT) which influence manufacturing organizations to enhance quality and reduce maintenance costs by implementing a combined approach of Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) and Decision-Making Trial Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL). A framework has been developed in which AHP is used to quantify the relative importance of each MAT variable and DEMATEL is used to capture the MAT variable interaction. The hybrid approach of AHP and DEMATEL concludes that ‘integration of manufacturing systems with maintenance’ is the highest weight factor, followed by ‘manufacturing processes’, ‘fault detection’, ‘organizational productivity’, and ‘organizational control’. This suggests that efficient MAT deployment in industrial firms could improve product quality by decreasing maintenance efforts. This study provides a tested and validated framework to motivate the decision-makers, professionals, and researchers of a variety of manufacturing organizations to implement this framework in a customised way for improving quality and cutting maintenance costs.

An Answer Verification Approach to Objective Questions in Intelligent Tutoring Systems

An approach to develop a problem solver for automatic answer verification to objective questions in intelligent tutoring systems constructed using OSTIS (Open Semantic Technology for Intelligent Systems) technology is сonsidered. The problem solver is developed based on multi-agent technology within OSTIS. The proposed problem solver automatically verifies the correctness and completeness of the user’s answer at the semantic level by starting the corresponding sc-agent sets according to the type of the questions. The objective question answer verification is one of the main purposes of the developed problem solver, it can also perform the calculation of the similarity between any two semantic graphs.

Recognition Method of Sports Training Based on Intelligent Information Platform

With the wide development of sports nowadays, many kinds of sport applications have appeared and changed the living styles of people all around the world. There are many factors that are important for sports, such as the environment and exercise. At present, there are still some shortcomings in sports training management all around the world. For example, the unscientific is unclear, the training purpose is not strong, and the assistant decision-making means are backward. In this way, these issues jointly make the sport training process difficult. In this way, this paper applies the multi-agent technology to the system, designs an intelligent information sports training management and recognition method based on intelligent agents, and carries on the concrete implementation in certain environments. The corresponding experimental results indicate that the accuracy and intelligence of the training recognition system can be improved greatly and effectively.

Usage of Automatic Guided Vehicle Systems and Multi-agent Technology in Higher Education

Today, smart manufacturing is differentiated from many other initiatives by its emphasis on human ingenuity. Human capabilities must be enhanced by intelligently designing a customized solution for a specific domain. For example, Industry 4.0 is based on collaborative robots that digitize and simplify manufacturing processes. In fact, Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs) are widely used in intelligent industries due to their productivity, flexibility, and versatility. They are widely considered as one of the most important tools for flexible logistics in workshops. They can move materials and products without a predefined route. Many commercially available AGVs provide a self-guided navigation system to find their way to target workstations. However, many developers and producers of industrial robots face several challenges in designing AGV systems, such as the difficulty of defining a decentralized system decision as well as the discontinuity and complexity of the design process. One of the relevant research areas related to our AGV solution is the establishment of the human-machine industrial relationship and the creation of safe operation side by side.

Impact of Multi-Agent Technology on the Manufacturing Organizations: A Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Analysis

Impact of Multi-Agent Technology on the Manufacturing Organizations: A Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Analysis

Analyzing the Role of Multi-Agent Technology on High-Tech Manufacturing using AHP, DEMATEL, and TOPSIS

Analyzing the Role of Multi-Agent Technology on High-Tech Manufacturing using AHP, DEMATEL, and TOPSIS

О НЕКОТОРЫХ МЕТОДАХ РАСЧЁТА СОСТОЯНИЯ ПОСЕВОВ В СЕРВИСЕ ЦИФРОВОГО ДВОЙНИКА РАСТЕНИЙ. ЧАСТЬ 2

In this paper, a concept of digital twin of plant, which is a decision support system to implement precise farming technologies. Digital twin of plant allows to forecast and simulate real crop state and suggest agricultural measures to the fields based on weather and soil data. Digital twin of plant is developed with the use of multi-agent technologies and ontology-based domain formalization.

Resolving Requirement Ambiguities Using ‘Self-Organized Reuse’ Semantic Wiki and Multi Agent Technology

المتطلبات هي نقطة الانطلاق في نظام البرمجيات حيث يعلن العملاء ما يتوقعون أن يقدمه نظام البرنامج. يتمثل التحدي الحاسم الذي يواجه مطور البرامج في الكشف عن المواصفات الصالحة من المتطلبات التي غالبًا ما تنطوي على الغموض. يرجع الغموض إلى اختلاف الفهم والعقلية لكل من العميل والمطور.

An approach to energy distribution between sources in a hierarchical integrated energy system using multi-agent technologies

Nowadays, researchers from all over the world pay increasingly more attention to the creation and development of models and methods to investigate the operation and management of integrated energy systems since this strand could provide significant advantages in the future in comparison with traditional energy systems. The optimal distribution of energy among sources in an integrated energy system is quite a complex and relevant issue since the growing number of distributed generation facilities and the increasing role of prosumers in the energy supply process can cause various problems, which require new methods to solve them. In this regard, this paper proposes an approach to the rational energy distribution among sources in a hierarchical integrated energy system using multi-agent technologies. This approach employs the principle aimed at coordinating solutions in three stages, starting with the calculation of load-controlled consumers and ending with the entire integrated energy system, and, thanks to such calculation principles, energy is distributed evenly among sources and there is no significant increase in costs for an individual consumer. The multi-agent technologies are used as a tool that has recently been successfully used by scientists worldwide to solve problems of various complexity and dimension. Based on the proposed approach, a multi-agent model of an integrated energy system was developed and a computational experiment was carried out to verify the developed principles of interaction among the components of an integrated energy system, and formulate a compromise energy supply solution taking into account the preferences, interests and capabilities of all participants in the integrated energy system.

Агентно-ориентированный подход к проектированию гибких производственных систем

The article considers the process of designing modules of a flexible production site using multi-agent technology. For a comprehensive organization of the design, there has been proposed an algorithm of intelligent automated design of the complex technical systems, flexible manufacture systems (FMS) being used as an example. It has been stated that the research at the stages of the conceptual design of the FMS is carried out by collecting prototype variants with using expert knowledge and interaction of agents-designers according to the method of self-realizing computer aided design. Building a distributed system for the intelligent design of a hybrid architecture using the features of agent technology is considered. A flexible manufacture system is chosen as a design object, which is a complex technical object of research, the process of its design is multi-stage and iterative. To design such systems using a common functional model at the initial stage, a set of tasks is defined to facilitate the computing design of the FMS. This approach to the design of FMS requires implementing the solutions of a large number of local problems of different purposes. To solve the local problems of design procedures there has been proposed a multi-agent design technology, where the agent-designer performs a specific local task of the design process. The developed formalisms and algorithms help automate the synthesis of technical objects of the FMS. To build an automated conceptual design system as main decision-making for the multi-agent systems, there has been proposed a technical solution based on the knowledge of intelligent multi-agent systems. Using a multi-agent system makes it possible to build a distributed parallel design system with ability to be transferred to various hardware and software platforms. There has been also proposed the structure of a multi-agent system for the intelligent computer-aided design based on the designer's knowledge base.

The concept of the formation and development of a multi-communication logistics system for an enterprise

The purpose of the article. The urgency of the research is based on the need to ensure the objectivity and transparency of contractual relations in all parts of the logistic chain, on the one hand, and the possibility of using the synergistic effect of the participants’ experience grounded in interconnected business-possesses, which can be achieved by introducing the principles of multi-agent technologies into the logistics management, on the other hand. The purpose is to work out an algorithm for creating and developing a multi-communication logistics system for a business structure. Materials and methods. A systematic approach, economic methods for processing special data, a method for analyzing dataset are used. Results. The paper presents a methodology for the development of a virtual enterprise in supply and marketing spheres of an industrial company, based on the author's methodology of financial micro-logistics. The core of the proposed algorithm for developing a multi-communication logistics system is focused on two aspects. The first is a combination of financial transparency and objectivity with the help of the proposed information support for logistics management of supply and sales. The second is a use of voluntary symbiosis of all logistics resources (material, financial, human, organizational capital). Conclusions. The authors believe that the obtained algorithm of the logistics portal for an enterprise will both advance and speed up business relations and make them more transparent.

Structural Optimization of Architectural Environmental Art Design Based on Multiagent Simulation System

Underthe background of the new era, the architectural environment design is constantly changing. Architectural environment design is to beautify the environment and provide people with a pleasant architectural environment. No matter what time, beauty is the eternal theme and the pursuit of people. Structural bionic design is based on the natural prototype, which is transformed into understandable digital or technical models by extracting relevant structural and behavioral features as design elements. The application of this design technique in architectural devices not only has strong structural logic but also artistic beauty, and can form novel spatial form and structural form of architectural devices. By analyzing the present situation and existing problems of theoretical research and simulation experiment of multiagent system, the necessity of designing a multiagent system planning algorithm and developing distributed real-time simulation experiment system is pointed out. A good environmental art design scheme can be designed in many different styles, and the performance of the design renderings will also appear in different pictures. The really chosen design scheme depends on the designer’s conception theme and then look at the performance of the renderings. In recent years, the emergence of multiagent has had a great impact on building environment design. Multiagent technology is a comprehensive information technology that integrates artificial intelligence, network, digital, and other technologies.