Software agents

A software agent is a persistent, goal-oriented computer program that reacts to its

environment and runs without continuous direct supervision to perform some function for an
end user or another program. Some, but not all, software agents have UIs (user interfaces).

What are Agent and Environment?

An agent is anything that can perceive its environment through sensors and acts
upon that environment through effectors.
 A human agent has sensory organs such as eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin
parallel to the sensors, and other organs such as hands, legs, mouth, for
effectors.
 A robotic agent replaces cameras and infrared range finders for the sensors,
and various motors and actuators for effectors.
 A software agent has encoded bit strings as its programs and actions.

 Multi-agent systems

What is multi-agent system?

It is related to the computer with intelligence programming. Various
definitions for agent are available based on their environment and how it is
used.

An advantage of using agent is its flexibility in all types of environment

and autonomy.

Complex system control and monitoring can be done using intelligent

controllers.
Agent is a fully referred as software and it mainly depend on the
environment.

Agent is used in the power system, it known as power system environment

are agent may be a part of an environment like sensors, relay, etc.

Features of a multi- agent

 An agent can perform partly with the environment like it has

information about the current bus systems voltage level and a
voltage level of the generation bus.
 Decisions are taken in the consideration of other bus parameters
also (autonomous and decision making).

 An agent has a facility for communicating nearby agent through
high-speed communication network to interchange their real-time
data.
 For example, the current power generation cost are collected from
the center control agent, based on this information,
 the consumer can change their load pattern (coordination and
cooperation).
 An agent has the decision making capability for certain level. Based
on the resources date available with the agent, it will perform
independently to obtain the objective. If anyone of the generation is
failed, agent will take the decision to give reliable supply based on
the real-time data available to end user (self-healing).

 Applications of Agent systems

Let's suppose a self-driving car then PEAS representation will be:

Performance: Safety, time, legal drive, comfort

Environment: Roads, other vehicles, road signs, pedestrian

Actuators: Steering, accelerator, brake, signal, horn

Sensors: Camera, GPS, speedometer, odometer, accelerometer, sonar.

Example of Agents with their PEAS representation

Agent Performance Environment Actuators Sensors

measure

1. o Healthy o Patient o Tests Keyboard

Medical (Entry of
patient Hospital Treatments
Diagnose o o symptoms)
o Minimized o Staff
cost

2. o Cleanness o Room o Wheels o Camera

Vacuum
Cleaner o Efficiency o Table o Brushes o Dirt
o Battery life o Wood o Vacuum detection
floor Extractor sensor
o Security
o Carpet o Cliff
sensor
o Various
obstacles o Bump
Sensor
o Infrared
Wall
Sensor
3. Part - o Percentage o Conveyor o Jointed o Camera
picking
of parts in belt with Arms o Joint
Robot
correct parts, o Hand angle s
bins. o Bins