Modeling and Simulation Support for System of Systems Engineering Applications

Chapter 8An Agent-Oriented Perspective on System of Systems for Multiple Domains

Agostino G. Bruzzone¹, Alfredo Garro², Francesco Longo², and Marina Massei¹

¹ DIME, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy

² DIMES, University of Calabria, Calabria, Italy

8.1 INTRODUCTION

System of systems (SoS) is an expression that indicates a class of systems constituted by a set of interconnected, and often geographically distributed, systems that interact for achieving common or conflicting goals and are capable of autonomous and independent behaviors (Maier, 1999). At this class of systems belong a wide range of systems in several application domains ranging from commercial and financial to military ones (Crossley, 2004). As a consequence, several research efforts are currently devoted to provide methods, models, and techniques for the analysis of SoSs. In this context, Modeling and Simulation (M&S) plays a central role as a primary tool for representing a SoS and for the study of its evolution, behaviors, and performances. However, with respect to large-scale systems (SoSs are often confused with large-scale systems that have been extensively experimented through M&S approaches), SoSs present different and peculiar aspects that need to be accurately taken into account and are essential to address for the definition of effective approaches for M&S of SoSs.

In this context, the chapter proposes a new perspective on SoS M&S based on the adoption of the agent-based paradigm (Jennings, 2001). Specifically, ...