Omacs: A Framework for Adaptive, Complex Systems

This chapter introduces a suite of technologies for building complex, adaptive systems. It is based in the multi-agent systems paradigm and uses the Organization Model for Adaptive Computational Systems (OMACS). OMACS defines the knowledge needed about a system’s structure and capabilities to allow it to reorganize at runtime in the face of a changing environment and its agent’s capabilities. However, the OMACS model is only useful if it is supported by a set of methodologies, techniques, and architectures that allow it to be implemented effectively on a wide variety of systems. To this end, this chapter presents a suite of technologies including (1) the Organization-based Multiagent Systems Engineering (O-MaSE) methodology, (2) a set of policy specification techniques that allow an OMACS system to remain flexible while still providing guidance, and (3) a set of architectures and algorithms used to implement OMACSbased systems. The chapter also includes the presentation of a small OMACS-based system.