University of Utah

School of Computing

Multi-Agent Systems

CS 6380

Spring Semester 2020

WEB L103 TH 10:45-12:05

Instructor: Thomas C. Henderson

Overview of Course

Course Objectives

Study multi-agent systems :

agent models
simulation environments
communication protocols
knowledge representation
distributed algorithms.
has a wide variety of applications:

search rescue operations
large-scale autonomous transportation
portfolio management
environment monitoring.

The following lists the goals for the multi-agent systems course:

Experience with multi-agent tools (Matlab)
Explore multi-agent systems in terms of the issues described above
Learn appropriate reporting techniques

Prerequisites

The prerequisite is vector calculus, and preferably some knowledge of AI, machine learning, data structures, processes, and Matlab.

Course Description

We will work on the problems and solutions to multi-agent systems looking at a wide variety of techniques.

Software Used to Support Class

Students will develop codes in Matlab.

Required Materials

There is no required text, but a useful resource is:

Multiagent Systems, Gerhard Weiss, (suggested)

Assignments

There are 3 major types of assignments (use the Lab Report Format for Problem reports):

Project: a semester-long contribution of a selected component of a class project (requires reports and Matlab functions).
Problem Assignments: These must be completed by the due date and turned in (using handin) as PDF report files and any accompanying Matlab functions.
Quizzes: Weekly (short) quizzes will be held during the semester.

Class Syllabus

The lectures will cover the text on the following schedule (may vary some during semester to accommodate progress):

Date	Topic	Material	Problem Assignments

January 7,9,14,16	Agents	Readings: A1 Folder in Canvas files	Assigned: A1
January 21,23,28,30	Agent Brains	Readings: A2 Folder in Canvas files	Assigned: A2
February 4,6,11,13	Agent Communication	Readings: Canvas A2	Assigned: A3
February 18,20,25,27	BDI Agents	Readings: R&N Chapters 7 & 13	Assigned: A4
March 3,5	Learning	Readings: R&N Chapters 16 & 17	Assigned: A5
March 10,12	Spring Break		Assigned: Fun
March 17,19,24,26	Multiagent Learning	Readings: BDI + R&N Chapters 16 & 17	Assigned: A6
March 31, April 2,7,9	Belief, Desire, Intention RL	Readings: Smith2017, Rios2018*, UAV Agent Functions	Assigned: A7
April 14,16,21	FAA-NASA SD vs. Lane SD	Readings: NASA2015, Matlab functions	Assigned: A8

Class Schedule and Assignments

The lectures and assignments will cover the readings as we progress through the semester. Assignments will usually be handed out on Tuesday and due on a Thursday after the material is covered.

Instructor

Instructor:

Thomas C. Henderson, Professor

E-Mail:

tch@cs.utah.edu

Phone:

801-581-3601

Fax:

801-585-3743

Office Hours (2781 WEB): By appointment.

TA:

E-Mail:

Phone:

Fax:

Office Hours:

Grading Information

The grading distribution will be as follows:

Project Component: 40%
Problem Assignments: 40%
In-Class Quizzes and Participation: 30%

You are expected to make a good effort on all assignments and in-class discussion (class attendance is required unless there is a justified excuse) based on a careful reading of the assigned material. I will assign a grade based on how reasonable your solution is given the difficulty of the assignment, the time required, and the style and content of the solution. My goal is to evaluate all your work, and to assign a grade based on your participation, effort and results. It's better to ask questions before and during an assignment, than to try and understand what went wrong after it's due. The proportions given above delineate how I intend to apportion the weight of the various work in the course.

Assignment Due Time

Unless otherwise stated in an assignment, all assignments will be due by classtime on the assignment due date. You should handin PDF's and code. The time that we use for an assignment is the submit time. I may ask for supporting material as well (Matlab codes, images, math analysis, etc.).

Appeals Procedure

See the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, or the Class Schedule for more details.

Appeals of Grades and other Academic Actions

If a student believes that an academic action is arbitrary or capricious he/she should discuss the action with the involved faculty member and attempt to resolve. If unable to resolve, the student may appeal the action in accordance with the following procedure:

Appeal to Department Chair who should be notified in writing within 40 working days; chair must notify student of a decision with 15 days. If faculty member or student disagrees with decision, then,
Appeal to Academic Appeals Committee (see flyers posted in MEB and EMCB for members of committee). See II Section D, Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities for details on Academic Appeals Committee hearings.

Assignment Late Policy

No late work is accepted.

Individual Work

The purpose of the assignments is to improve your skills at solving problems and demonstrating that you understand the class material. Collaboration with other class members is acceptable in understanding problems or software tools. For any individual assignments or work turned in, you must do your own work. Using someone else's work or giving someone else your work is considered plagiarism and will be dealt with using standard College and University procedures (i.e., failure of assignment and class). The SoC policy states: "As defined in the University Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, cheating, misrepresenting one's work, inappropriately collaborating, plagiarism, and fabrication or falsification of information. It also includes facilitating academic misconduct by intentionally helping or attempting to help another student to commit an act of academic misconduct. A primary example of academic misconduct would be submitting as one's own, work that is copied from an outside source." (See cheating_policy.pdf and SoC_ack_form.pdf in Link to Class Info and Docs.)

Registration

See university web page for the full academic calendar (Calendar web page). See the university web page for a copy of the withdraw guidelines as well, or see the Student Code.

See the college web page for more Guidelines.

American with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The University conforms to all standards of the ADA. If you wish to qualify for exemptions under this act, notify the Center for Disabled Students Services, 160 Union.
The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD). CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations.

All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services.