Design and Verification of Multi-Agent Systems with the Use of Bigraphs

• Main Authors: Piotr Cybulski, Zbigniew Zieliński
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
• Series: Applied Sciences
• Subjects: multi-agent systems; bigraphs; design; verification; modeling; non-functional requirements
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/18/8291

Widespread access to low-cost, high computing power allows for increased computerization of everyday life. However, high-performance computers alone cannot meet the demands of systems such as the Internet of Things or multi-agent robotic systems. For this reason, modern design methods are needed to develop new and extend existing projects. Because of high interest in this subject, many methodologies for designing the aforementioned systems have been developed. None of them, however, can be considered the default one to which others are compared to. Any useful methodology must provide some tools, versatility, and capability to verify its results. This paper presents an algorithm for verifying the correctness of multi-agent systems modeled as tracking bigraphical reactive systems and checking whether a behavior policy for the agents meets non-functional requirements. Memory complexity of methods used to construct behavior policies is also discussed, and a few ways to reduce it are proposed. Detailed examples of algorithm usage have been presented involving non-functional requirements regarding time and safety of behavior policy execution.