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The Trust-Based Interactive Partially Observable Markov Decision Process, Richard S. Seymour
The Trust-Based Interactive Partially Observable Markov Decision Process, Richard S. Seymour
Theses and Dissertations
Cooperative agent and robot systems are designed so that each is working toward the same common good. The problem is that the software systems are extremely complex and can be subverted by an adversary to either break the system or potentially worse, create sneaky agents who are willing to cooperate when the stakes are low and take selfish, greedy actions when the rewards rise. This research focuses on the ability of a group of agents to reason about the trustworthiness of each other and make decisions about whether to cooperate. A trust-based interactive partially observable Markov decision process (TI-POMDP) is …
Coalition Formation Under Uncertainty, Daylond J. Hooper
Coalition Formation Under Uncertainty, Daylond J. Hooper
Theses and Dissertations
Many multiagent systems require allocation of agents to tasks in order to ensure successful task execution. Most systems that perform this allocation assume that the quantity of agents needed for a task is known beforehand. Coalition formation approaches relax this assumption, allowing multiple agents to be dynamically assigned. Unfortunately, many current approaches to coalition formation lack provisions for uncertainty. This prevents application of coalition formation techniques to complex domains, such as real-world robotic systems and agent domains where full state knowledge is not available. Those that do handle uncertainty have no ability to handle dynamic addition or removal of agents …
Large-Scale Distributed Coalition Formation, Daniel R. Karrels
Large-Scale Distributed Coalition Formation, Daniel R. Karrels
Theses and Dissertations
The CyberCraft project is an effort to construct a large scale Distributed Multi-Agent System (DMAS) to provide autonomous Cyberspace defense and mission assurance for the DoD. It employs a small but flexible agent structure that is dynamically reconfigurable to accommodate new tasks and policies. This document describes research into developing protocols and algorithms to ensure continued mission execution in a system of one million or more agents, focusing on protocols for coalition formation and Command and Control. It begins by building large-scale routing algorithms for a Hierarchical Peer to Peer structured overlay network, called Resource-Clustered Chord (RC-Chord). RC-Chord introduces the …
Creating An Agent Based Framework To Maximize Information Utility, John M. Pecarina
Creating An Agent Based Framework To Maximize Information Utility, John M. Pecarina
Theses and Dissertations
With increased reliance on communications to conduct military operations, information centric network management becomes vital. A Defense department study of information management for net-centric operations lists the need for tools for information triage (based on relevance, priority, and quality) to counter information overload, semi-automated mechanisms for assessment of quality and relevance of information, and advances to enhance cognition and information understanding in the context of missions [30]. Maximizing information utility to match mission objectives is a complex problem that requires a comprehensive solution in information classification, in scheduling, in resource allocation, and in QoS support. Of these research areas, the …
Adaptive Gravitational Gossip In Monitoring The Joint Battlespace Infosphere, Edmund Descartes Aban
Adaptive Gravitational Gossip In Monitoring The Joint Battlespace Infosphere, Edmund Descartes Aban
Theses and Dissertations
Future USAF operations will be heavily dependent on having the "right information" at the "right time," and Joint Battlespace Infospheres (JBIs) are poised to fill that role. To do this, JBIs must be ubiquitous -- always accessible, secure and responsive. Of all the literature written regarding JBIs, the most important problem to solve in order to make JBIs work in mobile scenarios are scalability, reliability and adaptability to changing battlefield conditions. This paper explores the use of SBCast, a novel adaptive probabilistic protocol and a delivery mechanism for JBI updates and as a possible solution towards guaranteeing these qualities. It …
Development Approaches Coupled With Verification And Validation Methodologies For Agent-Based Mission-Level Analytical Combat Simulations, Lance E. Champagne
Development Approaches Coupled With Verification And Validation Methodologies For Agent-Based Mission-Level Analytical Combat Simulations, Lance E. Champagne
Theses and Dissertations
This research investigated the applicability of agent-based combat simulations to real-world combat operations. An agent-based simulation of the Allied offensive search for German U-Boats in the Bay of Biscay during World War II was constructed, extending the state-of-the-art in agent-based combat simulations, bridging the gap between the current level of agent-like combat simulations and the concept of agent-based simulations found in the broader literature. The proposed simulation advances agent-based combat simulations to “validateable” mission-level military operations. Simulation validation is a complex task with numerous, diverse techniques available and levels of validation differing significantly among simulations and applications. This research presents …
Automated Agent Ontology Creation For Distributed Databases, Austin A. Bartolo
Automated Agent Ontology Creation For Distributed Databases, Austin A. Bartolo
Theses and Dissertations
In distributed database environments, the combination of resources from multiple sources requiring different interfaces is a universal problem. The current solution requires an expert to generate an ontology, or mapping, which contains all interconnections between the various fields in the databases. This research proposes the application of software agents in automating the ontology creation for distributed database environments with minimal communication. The automatic creation of a domain ontology alleviates the need for experts to manually map one database to other databases in the environment. Using several combined comparison methods, these agents communicate and negotiate similarities between information sources and retain …
Agent Based Simulation Seas Evaluation Of Dodaf Architecture, Gregory V. Destefano
Agent Based Simulation Seas Evaluation Of Dodaf Architecture, Gregory V. Destefano
Theses and Dissertations
With Department of Defense (DoD) weapon systems being deeply rooted in the command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) structure, it is necessary for combat models to capture C4ISR effects in order to properly assess military worth. Unlike many DoD legacy combat models, the agent based model System Effectiveness and Analysis Simulation (SEAS) is identified as having C4ISR analysis capabilities. In lieu of requirements for all new DoD C4ISR weapon systems to be placed within a DoD Architectural Framework (DoDAF), investigation of means to export data from the Framework to the combat model SEAS began. Through operational, system, …
Visual Execution Analysis For Multiagent Systems, Chong Kil
Visual Execution Analysis For Multiagent Systems, Chong Kil
Theses and Dissertations
Multiagent systems have become increasingly important in developing complex software systems. Multiagent systems introduce collective intelligence and provide benefits such as flexibility, scalability, decentralization, and increased reliability. A software agent is a high-level software abstraction that is capable of performing given tasks in an environment without human intervention. Although multiagent systems provide a convenient and powerful way to organize complex software systems, developing such system is very complicated. To help manage this complexity this research develops a methodology and technique for analyzing, monitoring and troubleshooting multiagent systems execution. This is accomplished by visualizing a multiagent system at multiple levels of …
Ontological Engineering And Mapping In Multiagent Systems Development, Jonathan M. Dileo
Ontological Engineering And Mapping In Multiagent Systems Development, Jonathan M. Dileo
Theses and Dissertations
Multiagent systems have received much attention in recent years due to their advantages in complex, distributed environments. Previous work at the Air Force Institute of Technology has developed a methodology for analyzing, designing, and developing multiagent systems, called Multiagent Systems Engineering (MaSE). MaSE currently does not address the information domain of the system, which is an integral part of designing proper system execution. This research extends the MaSE methodology to include the use of ontologies for information domain specification. The extensions allow the designer to specify information flow by using objects from the ontology as parameters in agent conversations. The …
Design And Specification Of Dynamic, Mobile And Reconfigurable Multiagent Systems, Athie L. Self
Design And Specification Of Dynamic, Mobile And Reconfigurable Multiagent Systems, Athie L. Self
Theses and Dissertations
Multiagent Systems use the power of collaborative software agents to solve complex distributed problems. There are many Agent-Oriented Software Engineering (AOSE) methodologies available to assist system designers to create multiagent systems. However, none of these methodologies can specify agents with dynamic properties such as cloning, mobility or agent instantiation. This thesis starts the process to bridge the gap between AOSE methodologies and dynamic agent platforms by incorporating mobility into the current Multiagent Systems Engineering (MaSE) methodology. Mobility was specified within all components composing a mobile agent class. An agent component was also created that integrated the behavior of the components …
Transforming Analysis Models Into Design Models For The Multiagent Engineering Systems (Mase) Methodology, Clint H. Sparkman
Transforming Analysis Models Into Design Models For The Multiagent Engineering Systems (Mase) Methodology, Clint H. Sparkman
Theses and Dissertations
Agent technology has received much attention in the last few years because of the advantages that multiagent systems have in complex, distributed environments. For multiagent systems are to be effective, they must be reliable, robust, and secure. AFIT's Agent Research Group has developed a complete lifecycle methodology, called Multiagent Systems Engineering (MaSE), for analyzing, designing, and developing heterogeneous multiagent systems. However, developing multiagent systems is a complicated process, and there is no guarantee that the resulting system meets the initial requirements and will operate reliably with the desired behavior. The purpose of this research was to develop a semi-automated formal …
The Effect Of Contextual-Based Training On Artifact-Based Deception Detection, Elizabeth A. Autrey
The Effect Of Contextual-Based Training On Artifact-Based Deception Detection, Elizabeth A. Autrey
Theses and Dissertations
Air Force dependence on information technology (IT) creates vulnerabilities that it cannot ignore. With global availability of commercial IT and the Internet, the Air Force does not necessarily have the high technological advantage over potential adversaries that it once had. Furthermore, it is possible to directly and covertly manipulate information within information systems, or artifacts, without notice. This directly affects decision makers since the availability and integrity of information is critical. Air Force physical and network security measures taken to protect its information do not guarantee detection of direct information manipulation. This leaves it to information artifact users to detect …
A Component Based Approach To Agent Specification, David J. Robinson
A Component Based Approach To Agent Specification, David J. Robinson
Theses and Dissertations
The Air Force, as well as all of industry, is currently faced with the problem of having to produce larger and more complex software systems that run efficiently and reliably as well as being extensible and maintainable. This research addresses this problem by developing a knowledge representation language that can be used to unambiguously specify and design software systems in a verifiable, efficient, and understandable manner. The language is a combination of object-oriented and component-based methodologies and makes use of both graphics and text to represent information. Although designed for the development of any type of software system, the language …
Multiagent Systems Engineering: A Methodology For Analysis And Design Of Multiagent Systems, Mark F. Wood
Multiagent Systems Engineering: A Methodology For Analysis And Design Of Multiagent Systems, Mark F. Wood
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis defines a methodology for the creation of multiagent systems, the Multiagent Systems Engineering (MaSE) methodology. The methodology is a key issue in the development of any complex system and there is currently no standard or widely used methodology in the realm of multiagent systems. MaSE covers the entire software lifecycle, starting from an initial prose specification, and creating a set of formal design documents in a graphical style based on a formal syntax. The final product of MaSE is a diagram describing the deployment of a system of intelligent agents that communicate through structured conversations. MaSE was created …
Formal Object State Model Transformations For Automated Agent System Synthesis, David W. Marsh
Formal Object State Model Transformations For Automated Agent System Synthesis, David W. Marsh
Theses and Dissertations
Automated agent system synthesis is the process of generating code from a requirements specification with appropriate inputs from the software engineer. Object-oriented (OO) specifications are frequently used to model intelligent software agent systems and software requirements in general; formal representations capture precisely the intentions of the specifier. Portions of OO specifications can be classified as the structural, functional, and state (or dynamic) models; major strides have been taken in the development of transformations for creating code from formal OO specifications, specifically the structural and functional aspects, and are captured within the AFIT Wide-Spectrum Object Modeling Environment (AWSOME). This research creates …
Knowledge Base Support For Design And Synthesis Of Multi-Agent Systems, Marc J. Raphael
Knowledge Base Support For Design And Synthesis Of Multi-Agent Systems, Marc J. Raphael
Theses and Dissertations
AgentTool is an AFIT-produced, AFOSR-sponsored multi-agent system (MAS) development tool intended for production of MASs that meet military requirements. This research focuses on enabling MAS design and synthesis tools like agentTool to store, retrieve, and filter persistent, reusable, and reliable agent domain knowledge. This "enabling" is vital if such tools are expected to produce consistent, maintainable, and verifiable agent applications on short timetables. Enabling requires: 1) modeling the agent knowledge domain, 2) designing and employing a persistent knowledge base, and 3) bridging that domain model to the knowledge base with an extensible domain interchange grammar. The achieved interchange grammar, called …
A Formal Methodology And Technique For Verifying Communication Protocols In A Multi-Agent Environment, Timothy H. Lacey
A Formal Methodology And Technique For Verifying Communication Protocols In A Multi-Agent Environment, Timothy H. Lacey
Theses and Dissertations
As network bandwidth increases, distributed applications are becoming increasingly prevalent. Systems using these applications are very complicated to build and must be dependable. Software agents are ideal for breaking complicated problems into manageable subtasks. Agent conversations, a series of messages passed between agents, are the cornerstone of multi-agent systems and must be deemed correct before being placed into service. The purpose of this research was to develop a formal methodology and technique to verify that the communication protocols defined in a multi-agent environment were valid. This was accomplished by examining agent conversations before deploying the system. An additional goal of …
Artificially Intelligent Air Combat Simulation Agents, Daniel E. Gisselquist
Artificially Intelligent Air Combat Simulation Agents, Daniel E. Gisselquist
Theses and Dissertations
The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), in an effort to improve military simulations, has proposed a standard for Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS). This network protocol will allow dissimilar applications to communicate simulation information. In the field of air combat, this will allow pilots in remote simulators to fly in a common simulation. The success of this standard is dependent on applications being able to work within that standard, as well as a large variety of Computer Generated Forces (CGFs) to complement interactive forces. CGFs are needed to help simulate the large combat scenarios that can only occur in wartime. By …