Multiagent systems without Agents - Mirror-Holons for the compilation and enactment of communication structures

Abstract

It is widely accepted in Distributed Artificial Intelligence that a crucial property of artificial agents is their autonomy. Whereas agent autonomy enables features of agent-based applications like flexibility, robustness and emergence of novel solutions, autonomy might be also the reason for undesired or even chaotic agent behavior, and unmanageable system complexity. As a conceptual approach to the solution for this "autonomy dilemma" of agent-based software engineering, this work introduces the HolOMAS framework for open multiagent systems based on special meta-agents, so-called Mirror-Holons. Instead of restricting agent autonomy by means of normative constraints and defined organizational structures as usual, Mirror-Holons allow for the gradual uncoupling of agent interaction and emergent system functionality. Their main purpose is the derivation and adaption of social structure knowledge and evolving stochastical social programs from the observation and compilation of agent communication and additional design objectives. Social programs can either be executed by the Mirror-Holons themselves, or communicated to the agents and the system designer, similar to the functionality of mass media like television or newspapers in human societies. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005.