[Modeling] Re: [Modeling] Agent-oriented: why is it necessary?

Wed, 19 Nov 2003 19:12:59 +0100

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Indeed "living" is the right word. Living is the first step however. =
"Responsive" is another qualification that can be added to an Agent =
object. "Social" is yet another qualification that can be implemented. =
Don't make the error to confuse the concept with the implementation. =
Agents can be implemented in Fortran if you like. It is the agent =
concept that makes all the difference. We are now searching for a clean =
way to model the concept and its different qualifications.

Cheers

Frits Tolman
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Ricardo Sanz=20
  To: Yanqi=20
  Cc: modeling@fipa.org=20
  Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 10:21 AM
  Subject: Re: [Modeling] Re: [Modeling] Agent-oriented: why is it =
necessary?

Hi,

> That's to say, agent is an extention of object. So,
> the importance of agent is in modeling but not in
> implementation, is it?

  In some sense, the answer is "Yes". An agent is an extension of an =
object.=20

  But the type of extension makes a big deal. I like to think
  about them as objects with own threads (active objects). That sets the =
focus=20
  not only on modeling but also on implementation.=20

  We think about them as "living" objects.

  Best,

  Ricardo

  Yanqi wrote:

Hi, Ricardo and all,

Jennings wrote in "An agent-based approach for building
complex software systems" that no quantitative data is
available to demonstrate the efficacy of agent-oriented
techniques. He had to use a qualitative justification
to argure why agent-oriented approaches are well suited
to engineering complex, distributed software system.

James Odell wrote "Objects and agents: how do they=20
differ". In the paper, he argues that "agent-based way
 of thinking brings a useful and important perspective=20
for system development."

Is agent just useful in "thinking"? Existing agent-
based applications used to model with agents but imple-
ment with objects. A common sense of my colleague think:

      agent =3D object + mental attitudes

That's to say, agent is an extention of object. So,
the importance of agent is in modeling but not in
implementation, is it?

I believe the answer is "No".  But I can not make it
so clear to my colleagues. :(

with regards,
qi

Quoting Ricardo Sanz <Ricardo.Sanz@etsii.upm.es>:

  Hi All,

It is known that discussions about necessity are=20
    always difficult :-)
  The case for agent-based construction is stronger=20
    where there is a need of
  strong ecapsulation of semiautonomous behavior. The=20
    best example I know
  is a distributed control system (DCS).

A control loop is a paradigmatical task for an agent
(sense-perceive-act) and
being part of a large structure like a DCS forces -by=20
    nature, so to say- an
  agent-based approach.

In fact these people were building these type of=20
    systems much before the
  term "agent" was common in mainstream software.

Best,

Ricardo

yan qi wrote:

    Dear all,

After reading lots of papers on agent technology, I
have to ask myself this question: is agent-oriented
a necessary technology, or as AgentLink says, an=20
enabling technology for next generation software?

To answer this question, both academic and practical
reasons should be put forward. Yes, we can say agent
is autonomous and proactive. But can we show a=20
working example that is can not be well developed
by existing software development methodologies?

I believe this question is hard to answer in a simple
way. Do you think so?

I like to listen whatever you say.

Best regards,
qi

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

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Ricardo.Sanz@ETSII.UPM.es=20
Ricardo.Sanz@ASLab.org=20
Ricardo.Sanz@IEEE.org

http://aslab.disam.etsii.upm.es/~sanz=20

The AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS LABORATORY

Universidad Polit=A8=A6cnica de Madrid
Madrid, Spain

http://www.aslab.org=20
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Department of Computer Science and Techonology,
National University of Defense Techonology,
Changsha, 410073 China
+86 731 4533854
http://yanqi.topcities.com
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Ricardo.Sanz@ETSII.UPM.es=20
Ricardo.Sanz@ASLab.org=20
Ricardo.Sanz@IEEE.org

http://aslab.disam.etsii.upm.es/~sanz=20

The AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS LABORATORY

Universidad Polit=E9cnica de Madrid
Madrid, Spain

http://www.aslab.org=20
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Indeed "living" is the right word. =
Living is the=20
first step however. "Responsive" is another qualification that can be =
added to=20
an Agent object. "Social" is yet another qualification that can be =
implemented.=20
Don't make the error to confuse the concept with the implementation. =
Agents can=20
be implemented in Fortran if you like. It is the agent concept that =
makes all=20
the difference. We are now searching for a clean way to model the =
concept and=20
its different qualifications.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Cheers</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Frits Tolman</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
  <DIV=20
  style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
  <A title=3DRicardo.Sanz@etsii.upm.es=20
  href=3D"mailto:Ricardo.Sanz@etsii.upm.es">Ricardo Sanz</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Dyanqi@nudt.edu.cn=20
  href=3D"mailto:yanqi@nudt.edu.cn">Yanqi</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A =
title=3Dmodeling@fipa.org=20
  href=3D"mailto:modeling@fipa.org">modeling@fipa.org</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, November 19, =
2003 10:21=20
  AM</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Modeling] Re: =
[Modeling]=20
  Agent-oriented: why is it necessary?</DIV>
  <DIV><BR></DIV><PRE wrap=3D"">Hi,

&gt; That's to say, agent is an extention of object. So,
&gt; the importance of agent is in modeling but not in
&gt; implementation, is it?
</PRE><BR>In some sense, the answer is "Yes". An agent is an extension =
of an=20
  object. <BR><BR>But the type of extension makes a big deal. I like to=20
  think<BR>about them as objects with own threads (active objects). That =
sets=20
  the focus <BR>not only on modeling but also on implementation. =
<BR><BR>We=20
  think about them as "living"=20
  objects.<BR><BR>Best,<BR><BR>Ricardo<BR><BR><BR><BR>Yanqi wrote:<BR>
  <BLOCKQUOTE cite=3Dmid20031115120421.013695A30D@ds20.nudt.edu.cn =
type=3D"cite"><PRE wrap=3D"">Hi, Ricardo and all,