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Software Agents as Facilitators ofSoftware Agents as Facilitators ofCoalition Interoperability.Coalition Interoperability.
CoAX TeamCoAX Team
[ For 6th CCRTS, Annapolis, USA. 19 - 21 June [ For 6th CCRTS, Annapolis, USA. 19 - 21 June 2001]2001]
03 May 200103 May 2001
[ 13 Jun 2001 version ][ 13 Jun 2001 version ]
[ Based on Agents Mega Overview and CoAX Miami briefs ][ Based on Agents Mega Overview and CoAX Miami briefs ][ 60 Slides - inc Blanks, diversions, suplementaries etc ][ 60 Slides - inc Blanks, diversions, suplementaries etc ]
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DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 3
CoAXCoAX Software Agents as Facilitators ofSoftware Agents as Facilitators ofCoalition InteroperabilityCoalition Interoperability
David Allsopp
Patrick Beautement
Jeffrey Bradshaw
John Carson
Michael Kirton
Niranjan Suri
Austin Tate
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 4
CoAXCoAX
• Challenges of Coalition OperationsChallenges of Coalition Operations
• The Coalition Agents Experiment (CoAX)The Coalition Agents Experiment (CoAX)
• What are Agents?What are Agents?
• SummarySummary
• Lessons and InsightsLessons and Insights
• Why might Software Agents help?Why might Software Agents help?
OverviewOverview
More about IntegrationMore about Integration
More about the GridMore about the Grid
Military BenefitsMilitary Benefits
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 5
CoAXCoAX
• Challenges of Coalition OperationsChallenges of Coalition Operations
• The Coalition Agents Experiment (CoAX)The Coalition Agents Experiment (CoAX)
• What are Agents?What are Agents?
• SummarySummary
• Lessons and InsightsLessons and Insights
• Why might Software Agents help?Why might Software Agents help?
OverviewOverview
HOME BASE
THEATRE
National Grand StrategicJoint HQs
Coalition
Air
Units
Joint Force AirComponent Commander
(JFACC in JFAC HQ)Staffs: A1 - 9 + Nat'l Reps
JFACC
Coalition
Land
Units
Joint Force LandComponent Commander
(JFLCC in JFLC HQ)Staffs: G1 - 9 + Nat'l Reps
JFLCC
Coalition
Maritime
Units
Joint Force MaritimeComponent Commander
(JFMCC in JFMC HQ)Staffs: N1 - 9 + Nat'l Reps
JFMCC
OtherComponents:
LOGISTICS,MARINES,
SF etc
GRANDSTRATEGIC
MILITARYSTRATEGIC
OPERATIONAL
TACTICAL Nat'lReps
Nat'lReps
Nat'lReps
JOINT TASK FORCE HQ(JTF HQ)
Staffs: J1 - 9 + Nat'l Reps
Joint Task ForceCommander JTFC
NGOs
UN
UN Secretary General
UN SRSG
GOVERNMENTS
OGDs
Phases of Operations related to CoAX demosPhases of Operations related to CoAX demos
Initial Planning
• Political aims• Military guidance• Campaign planning• Commander's intent• Deployment
More Linear
Was the focus of theCoAX 6 / 9-month
demos
Execution
• Variable organisations• An opponent• Campaign re-planning• Short-notice tasking• Operation execution• Execution monitoring• Reporting / feedback,• Outcome assessment
Dynamic / iterativeuncertain
Is the focus of theCoAX 18-month
demo
Recovery
• Conflict resolution• Re-deployment• Peace support
More Linear
CoAX 30-month demoCovers all the above, plus greater levels of dynamic response and adaptation
to changes in Coalition structures, capabilities and services.
C4
I Su
pp
ort
Sy
ste
ms
C4
I Su
pp
ort
Sy
ste
ms
CommandFramework
ResponsibilitiesAuthority
MonitoringCo-ordination
COMMANDER
Command / IntentCommand / Intent
Action/Tasks
Intent
Directions,Instructions
Control
Orders
Collate,Aggregate
Notify
Reports
Status
Formal ControlFormal Control
Informal Processes
Relevance assessment,problem formulation,
scoping / framing,brain storming,collaboration.
Formal Guidance
DoctrineCONOPS
SOPs
TransformationTransformation
CurrentSituation.
Knowledge
CreativityInitiativeInsight
COMMAND TEAM
Informal ControlInformal Control
EventsEventsT
HE
WO
RL
DT
HE
WO
RL
DT
HE
WO
RL
DT
HE
WO
RL
D
ResultsResults
Inform (ation)Inform (ation)
After M. Chin /J. Clothier
DSTO 1998
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 9
CoAXCoAXThe Command ProcessThe Command Process
… … is really fractal …is really fractal …
AirAirLandLand
MaritimeMaritime
CampaignCampaign
JointJoint
… … semi-autonomous / nested loops ...semi-autonomous / nested loops ...
… … not mechanistic …not mechanistic …
Asynchronous Asynchronous hierarchical hierarchical
cyclecycle
Synchronous Synchronous hierarchical hierarchical
cyclecycle Execu
tion
Execu
tion
M
on
itori
ng
/
Mon
itori
ng
/
Ad
justm
en
tA
dju
stm
en
t
Opponent's Opponent's cycle(s)cycle(s)
Destructive Destructive interference interference
patternspatterns
Directives, Directives, plans and plans and
ordersorders
Reports and Reports and BriefingsBriefings
Grand Grand StrategicStrategic
StrategicStrategic
OperationaOperationall
TacticalTactical
Campaign Campaign CycleCycle
Pla
n
Pla
n
Main
ten
an
ce
Main
ten
an
ce
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 11
CoAXCoAXImplications for Software AgentsImplications for Software Agents
• Coalition operations are complex, heterogeneous, open, dispersed and change dynamically:– CoAX should embrace heterogeneity, not exclude it, and – the creation of virtual organisation(s) with agents in the team.
• It is difficult to achieve and maintain: agile, dominant and coherent operations; and shared information and common battlespace visualisations:– CoAX should provide flexible distributed infrastructure, and– enable the aggregation and sharing of Coalition capabilities /
applications systems / infrastructures, and– provide means to translate information / enable interoperability between
systems, and– deal with the integration of systems that were developed with particular
nations’ processes and doctrine in mind.
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 12
CoAXCoAXImplications for Software AgentsImplications for Software Agents
• There are essentially two conditions in conflict: stability and change:– During stability, CoAX should aid the monitoring of the state of the
'systems in conflict' and in identifying the underlying pressure for change towards an undesirable state.
– During change, CoAX should adapt to events which have occurred (and which were not expected) and support the actions / novel processes which have to be taken to mitigate their effects.
• Autonomy of partners and their agents must be respected:– CoAX must provide secure and assured environments supporting
different levels of security classification / trust, and– agents must be able to adjust their processing demands as the
resources in the environment become more scarce - but levels of service must be maintained - and so malicious / dysfunctional behaviour detection becomes more crucial.
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DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 14
CoAXCoAX
• Challenges of Coalition OperationsChallenges of Coalition Operations
• The Coalition Agents Experiment (CoAX)The Coalition Agents Experiment (CoAX)
• What are Agents?What are Agents?
• SummarySummary
• Lessons and InsightsLessons and Insights
• Why might Software Agents help?Why might Software Agents help?
OverviewOverview
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 15
CoAXCoAXWhat is an Agent?What is an Agent?
The term “agent” can mean many different things:The term “agent” can mean many different things:
• Mobile CodeMobile Code
• Distributed Distributed component librariescomponent libraries
• “ “Disembodied” code Disembodied” code with temporal duration with temporal duration or persistent state or persistent state
• “ “Intelligent routers”Intelligent routers”
• Web Search ToolsWeb Search Tools
• Semantic broker Semantic broker and name space and name space services services
• Electronic Electronic commerce with commerce with message-passing message-passing entitiesentities
• Interface Interface animationanimation
• Applets Applets
• Dynamic Dynamic servicesservices
• Control Control protocolsprotocols
• RobotsRobots
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 16
CoAXCoAXWhat is an Agent?What is an Agent?
• Shoham’s definition:– "A software entity which functions continuously and autonomously
in a particular environment, often inhabited by other agents and processes."
• Alternative definition:– "Agents can be viewed as (software) entities acting on behalf
of, or mediating the actions of, a human user and having the ability to autonomously carry out tasks to achieve goals or support the activities of the user."
• Characteristics of an agent-based environment:– Open, dispersed, component-based with many 'virtual'
organisations and indeterminate interactions.
Agent Interaction ModesAgent Interaction Modes
MA (Avatar)MA (Avatar)
KEY: Information transfers'Housekeeping'SW-Agent ConversationOpponent Activities Human-Agent 'Conversation'
Four types of agents:
• MA / Mediator (green),
• IA / Information (blue),
• HA / Hostile (red).
• HK / 'Housekeeping' (black),
CYBERSPACE
'App'
HA
HA
HK
HK
Info
IA
IAMA
MA
MA
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 18
CoAXCoAXSoftware Agent ExamplesSoftware Agent Examples
• Interface Agents:– Briefers, e-Tannoy, secretaries, satellite assistants,
– Assistants (eg: Mediator - email reader),
– Monitoring / problem-solving / alerting.
• Information / Middle Agents:– Search / filtering / markup (DAML) agents,
– Document conversion / formatting / summarisation,
– Distributed / shared 'virtual' databases,
– Legacy system 'wrapping' / interoperability.
• Housekeeping:– Virus checkers,
– Domain authorisation,
– Performance monitoring ('Scram').
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DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 20
CoAXCoAX
• Challenges of Coalition OperationsChallenges of Coalition Operations
• The Coalition Agents Experiment (CoAX)The Coalition Agents Experiment (CoAX)
• What are Agents?What are Agents?
• SummarySummary
• Lessons and InsightsLessons and Insights
• Why might Software Agents help?Why might Software Agents help?
OverviewOverview
TO PROVIDE A MECHANISM SO THAT HUMANS TO PROVIDE A MECHANISM SO THAT HUMANS
CAN ACT DECISIVELY IN THECAN ACT DECISIVELY IN THE
VIRTUAL WORLD OF 'CYBERSPACE'VIRTUAL WORLD OF 'CYBERSPACE'
SOFTWARE
AGENTS
Why Software Agents?Why Software Agents?
Autonomy:Autonomy:
• goal directedgoal directed
• pro-active and reactivepro-active and reactive
• mobile mobile
Adaptation:Adaptation:
• dynamic interactiondynamic interaction
• machine learning machine learning
Co-operation:Co-operation:• communication protocolscommunication protocols• knowledge sharingknowledge sharing• co-ordination strategiesco-ordination strategies
AdaptiveAdaptive Co-operativeCo-operative
AutonomousAutonomous
Useful Characteristics of Software AgentsUseful Characteristics of Software Agents
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 23
CoAXCoAXMapping Agents to the TaskMapping Agents to the Task
• Software Agent-based environments map well to the Coalition challenges. They:– are open, dispersed, heterogeneous and component-based,
– support 'virtual' organisations where ill-defined, iterative and recursive interactions take place and where agents themselves can be composed of other agents
• Software Agents can be organised into separate technical domains which can be mapped to domains with meaning in the 'real' world, such as:– national / country domains,
– organisational / functional domains,
– individual decision-maker's domains,
– virtual / 'overlapping' domains ...
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 24
CoAXCoAX
UK Country'Domain'Other
Nation's'Domain'
US CountryUS Country'Domain''Domain'
B
JFAC HQ'sOrganisational 'Domain'
Tactical AirTactical AirOperations FunctionalOperations Functional
'Domain''Domain' C
JTFHQ's Organisational'Domain'
A
JTFC's (from the UK)Individual 'Domain'
8
7
4
5a 5b
2
1
D3
9
6
CoalitionCoalitionCommand ProcessesCommand Processes
Ope
ratio
nal
Ope
ratio
nal
Con
text
Con
text
Com
man
d S
uppo
rtC
omm
and
Sup
port
App
licat
ions
App
licat
ions
Agent DomainServices
HK IA
Bespoke 'Application'Bespoke 'Application' User-customised 'Application'User-customised 'Application'
SoftwareSoftwareAgentAgent
SoftwareSoftwareComponentComponent
SoftwareSoftwareAgentAgent
SoftwareSoftwareComponentComponent
Software Agent Conversations
USERUSER USERUSER USERUSERMA'MA' MA''MA'' MA'''MA'''
Agent-enabled Information Service InfrastructuresAgent-enabled Information Service Infrastructures(eg: The DARPA Grid)(eg: The DARPA Grid)In
fra-
Infr
a-st
ruct
ure
stru
ctur
e
CYBERSPACECYBERSPACE HA /IA
IA
HK
Software Agent Support to Coalition OperationsSoftware Agent Support to Coalition Operations
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DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 27
CoAXCoAX
• Challenges of Coalition OperationsChallenges of Coalition Operations
• The Coalition Agents Experiment (CoAX)The Coalition Agents Experiment (CoAX)
• What are Agents?What are Agents?
• SummarySummary
• Lessons and InsightsLessons and Insights
• Why might Software Agents help?Why might Software Agents help?
OverviewOverview
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 28
CoAXCoAX
Coalition Agents Experiment (CoAX) - Coalition Agents Experiment (CoAX) - a Coalition Technology Integration a Coalition Technology Integration
Experiment (TIE)Experiment (TIE)
DARPA, AFRL Rome, AIAI, Boeing, Dartmouth, DERA Malvern,DARPA, AFRL Rome, AIAI, Boeing, Dartmouth, DERA Malvern,Lockheed Martin ATL, Michigan, OBJS, USC/ISI, UWF/IHMCLockheed Martin ATL, Michigan, OBJS, USC/ISI, UWF/IHMC
Support from BBN, GITI, ISX, MITRE, MIT Sloan, Schafer, StanfordSupport from BBN, GITI, ISX, MITRE, MIT Sloan, Schafer, Stanford
Coalition Agents eXperiment (CoAX)Coalition Agents eXperiment (CoAX)http://www.aiai.ed.ac.uk/project/coax/http://www.aiai.ed.ac.uk/project/coax/
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 29
CoAXCoAXAim of Coalition TIEAim of Coalition TIE
• To address unique aspects of Coalition operations through the development and evaluation of:– agent infrastructures / architectures,
– agent domain management services,
– agent information, task, process and event management services.
• Aim will be met through delivery of:– Phased technical demonstrations of increasing complexity,
– Connection of a variety of diverse agent systems,
– Development of generic Coalition-oriented Grid services.
• Requirements:– Use of a wide variety of different agent systems / infrastructures,
– Use of existing military (non-agent) applications.
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 30
CoAXCoAX
Derived from LeRoy Pearce (Canadian MOD), 1999
Key Coalition DriversKey Coalition Drivers
• Different cultures, doctrines, and languages:– Different doctrine, decision making, rules of engagement and, in
general, mission 'agendas',– Command authorities - agreement and transfers,– Different interpretation of situational information.
• Incompatibility of respective national information systems:– Different technology skill and equipment levels,– Lack of information systems resource sharing agreements,– Variable reliability of components and infrastructures,– Lack of compatible security architectures,– Need for rapid configuration and reconfiguration by personnel with
limited training.
• Limited 'models' for Coalition force operations.
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 31
CoAXCoAXKey Technical DriversKey Technical Drivers
• Cannot assume interoperability, reliability or availability of different nations systems.
• Need for partial (secure) sharing and visualization of processes, information, capabilities and facilities.
• Need to work with agents in multiple, dynamically determined domains.
• Need for rapid, agile, adaptable inter-agent task, process & event management.
• Need for rapid formation, management and change of agent relationships.
• Need to maintain levels of service - even under adversity.
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 32
CoAXCoAXCoAX ComponentsCoAX Components
LAN
LAN
LANGrid DARPADARPACoABS GridCoABS Grid(GITI, ISX)(GITI, ISX)
Agent FrameworksAgent FrameworksKAoS Agents (Boeing, IHMC)KAoS Agents (Boeing, IHMC)NOMADS Mobile Agents (IHMC)NOMADS Mobile Agents (IHMC)EMAA/CAST Agents (LMEMAA/CAST Agents (LM--ATL)ATL)D’Agents (Dartmouth)D’Agents (Dartmouth)eGents (OBJS)eGents (OBJS)
Agent Grid ServicesAgent Grid ServicesTask and Task and ProcessProcess Management (AIAI) Management (AIAI)Domain Management Services (IHMC, Boeing)Domain Management Services (IHMC, Boeing)Asynchronous Wireless Connectivity (OBJS)Asynchronous Wireless Connectivity (OBJS)Plan Deconfliction (Michigan)Plan Deconfliction (Michigan)
Agents on the GridAgents on the GridAODB Agent (LMAODB Agent (LM--ATL)ATL)Observer Agents (Dartmouth)Observer Agents (Dartmouth)eGents E-mail Agents (OBJS)eGents E-mail Agents (OBJS)Malicious Agents (IHMC)Malicious Agents (IHMC)Web Weather Agent (USC/ISI)Web Weather Agent (USC/ISI)……
More about IntegrationMore about Integration
More about the GridMore about the Grid
Military Military SystemsSystemsCAMPS (AFRL,GITI, BBN)CAMPS (AFRL,GITI, BBN)MBP (DERA)MBP (DERA)……
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 33
CoAXCoAXAgent Domain Management in CoAXAgent Domain Management in CoAX
• Broadens typical distributed security concerns to include:• Access management: Who can access what services? • Registration management: Who can join the domain under what
circumstances?• Resource management: Who can have which kind and how
much of a given computing resource?• Mobility management: What constraints should be placed on
mobile code?• Communication management: What constraints govern
interaction between conversing agents? • Obligation management: Are agents meeting their
commitments?
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 34
CoAXCoAX9-month Demonstration Overview9-month Demonstration Overview
• Focused on information-gathering phase of Coalition Operation• First interoperation of agent-wrapped legacy and existing US and UK
systems (AFRL / BBN / GITI CAMPS and DERA MBP).• Agents and domains - 6 agent domains and ~25 agents:
– USC / ISI Ariadne agent providing publicly-available weather info,– Initial AIAI Process Panel.
• Domain management functionality:– Malicious observer agent thwarted by IHMC KAoS domain management and
NOMADS resource control mechanisms.– IHMC KAoS Policy Administration Tool (KPAT) administering communication,
registration, and resource policies.
• Stand-alone demonstrations:– MIT exception handling, U. Michigan plan deconfliction, Dartmouth ‘observer
agents’, OBJS eGents
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Rathmell, R.A. (1999) A Coalition Force Scenario 'Binni - Gateway to the Golden Bowl of Africa', in Proceedings of the International Workshop on Knowledge-Based Planning for Coalition
Forces, (ed. Tate, A.) pp. 115-125, Edinburgh, Scotland, 10th-11th May 1999.
BINNIBINNI
JFAC HQ
Gao Intel
US
JTF HQ
Observers(Intel)
Gao Obs.
NOMADS Guarded “Observers”
9-month Demonstration - Agents and Domains9-month Demonstration - Agents and Domains
AODBAODB
LM-ATLLM-ATL
WeatherWeather
AriadneAriadneCAMPSCAMPS
ALDBALDB
DbDbiiii
DbDbii
MBPMBPIntel1Intel1
Intel2Intel2DM2DM2
MM2MM2
DM1DM1
MM1MM1
DM4DM4 MM4MM4
AODBAODB
PP'PP'
DM3DM3
MM3MM3
DM5DM5
MM5MM5DAODAO
GAOGAO
WeatherWeatherVizViz
AL PlanAL Plan
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 37
CoAXCoAX18-Month (July 2001) Demonstration Plan18-Month (July 2001) Demonstration Plan
• More realism in Coalition structures:– All CoAX members integrated (9 domains and ~35 agents),
– Coalition agents playing multiple roles in different domains,
– New policies provide additional robustness and responsiveness,
– Added functionality in process and task management.
• Increased validity of military scenario in the demonstration:– Richer information gathering phase,
– Extend scope to execution phase with agent systems responding dynamically to events.
• Incorporating Coalition functionality becomes easier:– Package selected domain management functionality as KAoS grid
helper.
Coalition
JFAC HQ
Gao Intel
US
Observers(Intel)
UKShared
Met.
18-Month (July 2001) Demo Structure18-Month (July 2001) Demo Structure
Gao Obs.
AODBAODB
LM-ATLLM-ATL
WeatherWeather AriadneAriadne
CAMPSCAMPS
ALDBALDB
DbDbiiii
DbDbii
MBPMBP
Intel1Intel1
Intel2Intel2 DM2DM2
MM2MM2DM1DM1MM1MM1DM4DM4 MM4MM4
AODBAODB
DM8DM8 MM8MM8DM5DM5
MM5MM5DGODGO
DAODAO
GAOGAODM6DM6
MM6MM6
AL PlanAL Plan
Intel1aIntel1aIntel3Intel3
DM7DM7
MM7MM7
DbDbiiiiii
DM3DM3
MM3MM3
WeatherWeatherVizViz DM9DM9
MM9MM9PPPP
EH
IMIM
Plan Dec.Plan Dec.
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 39
CoAXCoAX30-Month (July 2002) Demonstration Plan30-Month (July 2002) Demonstration Plan
• Dynamic “come as you are” coalition formation:– Dynamic creation of ‘virtual coalition organisation’,
– Agents and domains added to coalition structure ‘on-the-fly’,
– Dynamic coalition tasks and processes.
• Tailored visualizations.• Tools to improve human / software agent interaction.• High-level tools usable without specialized training.• Packaged task, process, and event management capabilities as
generic Grid services.
Plus: Have bid for involvement in Millennium Challenge / JEFX 2002Plus: Have bid for involvement in Millennium Challenge / JEFX 2002
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 40
CoAXCoAXCoAX MessageCoAX Message
• Operational Message:– Interoperability of different nations’ systems,
– Agility and robustness,
– Support to coalition and “virtual” organizations.
• Technical Message:– Agents as an appropriate paradigm to facilitate interoperability of
disparate systems,
– Middleware of CoABS Grid is valuable for rapid configuration,
– Utility of domain management and task / process / event management services.
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 41
CoAXCoAXFurther Information and InvolvementFurther Information and Involvement
• CoAX and Binni documentation available: – 100+ page ‘living document’ describing CoAX contributions and
Binni ‘FLASH’ scenario,
– http://www.aiai.ed.ac.uk/project/coax/• We encourage further participation…
– In addressing key coalition and technical drivers,
– In seeking operational opportunities,
– In seeking inter-program links,
– In future demonstrations.
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DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 43
CoAXCoAX
• Challenges of Coalition OperationsChallenges of Coalition Operations
• The Coalition Agents Experiment (CoAX)The Coalition Agents Experiment (CoAX)
• What are Agents?What are Agents?
• SummarySummary
• Lessons and InsightsLessons and Insights
• Why might Software Agents help?Why might Software Agents help?
OverviewOverview
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 44
CoAXCoAXUse of Software AgentsUse of Software Agents
• Aims:– Research Software Agents and the contribution they could make to increasing
productivity and force effectiveness in Coalition Operations.– Participate in collaborative software agent technology programmes.
• Potential benefits:– Assisting with the rapid formation and coherent operation of 'come-as-you-are'
Coalition organisations and forces.– Enabling command agility:
• decision-makers / personalised agents working as a virtual team,• agents improving access to the required information and resources,• helping to cope with uncertainty,• using agent-enabled grid: dispersed and robust.
– Supporting interoperability / use of legacy systems.
• Key research issues ...
Military BenefitsMilitary Benefits
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 45
CoAXCoAXKey Research IssuesKey Research Issues
• Agent communication:– meaning, ontology and semantics (involvement with DAML etc).
• Human-agent / software agent intelligent interactions (HASAII):– 'Conversation' techniques (NLP etc),
– Visualisation / representation.
• Implementation issues:– hybrid communities / interoperability / architectures,
– plug-and-play (building communities on-the-fly),
– extending the range of generic Grid services.
• Security: balancing risk vs certainty.• Related novel concepts and approaches:
– Alife / self-organisation / complexity / phenomena of emergence.
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 46
CoAXCoAX
• Challenges of Coalition OperationsChallenges of Coalition Operations
• The Coalition Agents Experiment (CoAX)The Coalition Agents Experiment (CoAX)
• What are Agents?What are Agents?
• SummarySummary
• Lessons and InsightsLessons and Insights
• Why might Software Agents help?Why might Software Agents help?
OverviewOverview
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 47
CoAXCoAXSummarySummary
• Agent-based applications and infrastructures are coming!!• Agent systems will contain multiple heterogeneous sets of
software agents - they'll be part of your team.• The DARPA CoABS program is designing, implementing, and
testing a prototype “agent grid” which stresses run-time interoperability:
• of diverse architectures / systems,• of diverse agent types.
• This will enable communication and cooperation amongst heterogeneous sets of agents and legacy systems.
• Intelligent agent technology programs at DERA, DARPA, AFRL/IF and other research centres are producing technology to enable agent-based C4I systems for military applications.
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 48
CoAXCoAX
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Patrick BeautementPatrick BeautementE109, DERA Malvern,E109, DERA Malvern,
St Andrews Road,St Andrews Road,Gt Malvern, WR14 3PS, UK.Gt Malvern, WR14 3PS, UK.
Tel: +44 (0)1684-89 6057Tel: +44 (0)1684-89 6057Fax: +44 (0)1684-89 4389Fax: +44 (0)1684-89 4389
Briefing available from http://www.beautement.co.uk
QuestionsQuestionsPlease ...Please ...
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DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 50
CoAXCoAXPotential Military Benefits (1) Potential Military Benefits (1)
• Providing a means to achieve 'cyberspace superiority' by equipping humans with a mechanism for acting effectively and decisively in the virtual world (eg: to engage in information and software warfare).
• Improving distributed human interactions (the so-called 'virtual co-location') and the power of using information networks and tools by representing their 'owner' as a proxy in the virtual world.
• Improving support to the Command Process by enhancing the ease and power of using applications by providing a taskable assistant to carry out actions in the virtual world (monitoring plan consistency, scheduling and resource management).
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 51
CoAXCoAXPotential Military Benefits (2) Potential Military Benefits (2)
• Enhancing decision-making by acting as a problem-solving assistant which could search, retrieve and collate information from any source, on behalf of the User, and return information in a context-sensitive form.
• Improving flexibility and 'command agility' by supporting and contributing to the type of modular, component-based and reconfigureable architecture required for Joint Battlespace Digitisation.
• Providing robustness, security, and interoperability support in dispersed and diverse infrastructures (eg: in the Joint and Coalition environment).
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 52
CoAXCoAXPotential Military Benefits (3) Potential Military Benefits (3)
• Enabling humans to have awareness of the virtual world by providing a 'cyberspace picture' such that some sense of the activity can be visualised (eg: areas where there are bottlenecks or opponent attack, current level of use etc).
• Improving understanding of C3ISTAR processes through the use of agent-based analysis, modelling and synthetic environments.
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MBP WrapperMBP WrapperMBP WrapperMBP Wrapper
The The GRIDGRID
Java-Java-SpaceSpace
MBPMBPProxyProxy
MBPMBPProxyProxy
Intel. Intel. UpdateUpdateAgentAgent
Intel. Intel. UpdateUpdateAgentAgent
LMLMInfoAgentInfoAgent
LMLMInfoAgentInfoAgent
DERADERAInfoAgentInfoAgent
DERADERAInfoAgentInfoAgent
Partitioned Partitioned ScenarioScenario
DataData
Partitioned Partitioned ScenarioScenario
DataData
Interfacing Master Battle Planner (MBP) to the GridInterfacing Master Battle Planner (MBP) to the Grid
More about the GridMore about the Grid
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 55
CoAXCoAX
JavaSpace APIJavaSpace API
Java MBP WrapperJava MBP WrapperReads and writes Reads and writes data to the data to the JavaSpaceJavaSpace
ObjectObjectTranslationTranslation
Converts Java Converts Java objects to C++ objects to C++
objectsobjectsJNIJNI
Allows C++ to Allows C++ to invoke Java invoke Java
methodsmethods
C++ MBP WrapperC++ MBP Wrapper
Provides MBP with Provides MBP with access to agents. access to agents. Interfaces to JavaInterfaces to Java
Legacy part of MBPLegacy part of MBP
Agent-enabling MBPAgent-enabling MBP
DERA / S&E / SIP / DTG / CCRTS 56
CoAXCoAXAgent-enabling MBPAgent-enabling MBP
• Components:– MBPWrapper
– Javaspaces: buffer and security
– MBPProxyAgent
– InfoAgent
– UpdateAgent
– (EMAA/CAST Agents)
– (mock-up AODB)
– XML conversion classes
– the Grid
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LAN
LAN
LANGrid
Grid (registered agents / services federation) enables heterogeneous agent systems to: Register Advertise their capabilities & needs Find available resources Communicate across agent communities Form task-based teams Log activity
CoABS Grid / Y-JBI ConceptsCoABS Grid / Y-JBI Concepts
• Agent: an encapsulated software entity with its own identity, state, behavior, thread of control, and ability to interact and communicate with other entities including people, other agents, and legacy systems.
• Grid Registered Agent: agent registered with grid services.
• Grid Services: infrastructure agents that cooperate with each other to provide services to registered agents.
• Grid Agent Platform: set of Grid services and registered agents
Nam ing-include symbolicnaming
Directory-simple ye llow pagesdatabase retrieva l
Logging-develop log syntax-support visualization
Translation-F IPA ACL(KQ M L,ICL)
Brokerage-recruitment andmediation
Visualization-sta tus-interaction
V0.1, V0.2
Grid ServicesGrid Services
End of PresentationEnd of Presentation