MPADES: Middleware for parallel agent discrete event simulation

Abstract

Simulations are an excellent tool for studying artificial intelligence. However, the simulation technology in use by and designed for the artificial intelligence community often fails to take advantage of much of the work by the larger simulation community to produce stable, repeatable, and efficient simulations. We present the new system Middleware for Parallel Agent Discrete Event Simulation (MPADES) as a simulation substrate for the artificial intelligence community. MPADES focuses on the agent as a fundamental simulation component. The "thinking time" of an agent is tracked and reflected in the results of the agents' actions. MPADES supports and manages the distribution of agents across machines while being robust to variations in network performance and machine load. We present the system in detail and give experimental results for a simple world model and set of agents. MPADES is not tied to any particular simulation, and is a powerful new tool for creating simulations for the study of artificial intelligence. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003.