Module Details
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title MULTI-AGENT SYSTEMS
Code COMP310
Coordinator Dr TR Payne
Computer Science
T.R.Payne@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2016-17 Level 6 FHEQ Second Semester 15

Aims
  1. To introduce the student to the concept of an agent and  multi-agent systems, and the main applications for which they are appropriate;
  2. To introduce the main issues surrounding the design of intelligent agents;
  3. To introduce the main issues surrounding the design of a multi-agent society.
  4. To introduce a contemporary platform for implementing agents and multi-agent systems.

Learning Outcomes
  1. Understand the notion of an agent, how agents are distinct from other software paradigms (eg objects) and understand the characteristics of applications that lend themselves to an agent-oriented solution;
  2. Understand the key issues associated with constructing agents capable of intelligent autonomous action, and the main approaches taken to developing such agents;
  3. Understand the key issues in designing societies of agents that can effectively cooperate in order to solve problems, including an understanding of the key types of multi-agent interactions possible in such systems
  4. Understand the main application areas of agent-based solutions, and be able to develop a meaningful agent-based system using a contemporary agent development platform.

Syllabus
1  1

1       Introduction (1 week)

  • what is an agent?:  agents and objects; agents and expert systems; agents and distributed systems; typical application areas for agent systems.

2    Intelligent Agents (3 weeks)

  • the design of intelligent agents – reasoning agents (eg AgentO), agents as reactive systems (eg subsumption architecture); hybrid agents (eg PRS); layered agents (eg Interrap)
  •  a contemporary (Java-based) framework for programming agents (eg the Jack language, the JAM! system).

3   Multi-Agent Systems (5 weeks)

  • Classifying multi-agent interactions – cooperative versus non-cooperative; zero-sum and other interactions; what is cooperation? how cooperation occurs – the Prisoner’s dilema and Axelrod''s experiments; (1 week)
  • Interactions between self-interested agents:  auctions & voting systems:  negotiation; (2 weeks)
  • Interactions between benevolent agents:  cooperative distributed problem solving (CDPS), partial global planning; coherence and coordination; (1 week)
  • Interaction languages and protocols:  speech acts, KQML/KIF, the FIPA framework. (1 week)

 4      Advanced topics (2 weeks):

  • One issue selected from the contemporary research literature, perhaps by guest lecturer.

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Lecture -


Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 30

           30
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 120
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Written Exam  2.5 hours  2  100  At the next normal opportunity.  N/A  Assessment 1 Notes (applying to all assessments) Written examination  
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
             

Recommended Texts
Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
Explanation of Reading List: