Multi-Agent Programming Contest -- Opening Discussion

[Tristan Behrens]

=== DISCUSSION INVITATION ================

     Multi-Agent Programming Contest (MAPC 2011)
     http://www.multiagentcontest.org

========================================



1. AIMS AND SCOPE

This competition is an attempt to stimulate research in the area
of multi-agent system development and programming by
1. identifying key problems,
2. collecting suitable benchmarks, and
3. gathering test cases which require and enforce coordinated action
that can serve as milestones for testing multi-agent programming
languages, platforms and tools.



2. HISTORY

The Multi-Agent Programming Contest was initiated in 2005 and since
then it has passed through three distinct phases. The first phase began in
2005 with the "food-gatherers"-scenario, where a pre-specified multi-agent
system had to be implemented. These MASs were later examined in order
to determine the winner. From 2006 - 2007 we ran the "goldminers"-scenario.
This time we provided the environment by means of an online-architecture,
and automatically determined the winner. Then from 2008 - 2010 we ran
the "cows and cowboys"-scenario. Again on the same online-architecture,
but this time with a slightly changed objective.



3. THE FOURTH PHASE: "AGENTS ON MARS"

We begin the fourth phase with the definition of a new scenario:
"Agents on Mars".
The goal is to implement a team of cooperating agents with different roles
in order to occupy zones on planet Mars.



4. DISCUSSION INVITATION

For the MAPC 2011, we intend to enforce and promote even more the decentralization of the agents' team. We are proposing that not only the scenario should be changed, but also some features the platform. The contest for 2011 will thus bring out more significant changes and we think it would be fruitful for both participants and organizers to have a deep discussion about the details of the simulation.

The description of the new "Agents on Mars"-scenario is available at
     http://multiagentcontest.org/downloads?func=startdown&id=500

You can find a implementation-prototype at
      http://multiagentcontest.org/agentContestProto2011-JNLP.html

We would like to invite potential participants to evaluate this new proposal, join the MAPC 2011 list, post comments there, and help us to setup a suitable environment to achieve the goals of the contest.

To join the discussion, please subscribe to this mailing-list. To subscribe, send an e-mail to
           agentcontest2011-subscribe [at] in.tu-clausthal.de
with the subject "subscribe". The confirmation request and welcome message will be sent to you shortly afterwards. Pleasefollow the instructions in the automatic mailing list replies.



5. ROUGH TIMELINE

Now: commencing the scenario-discussion.

January 2011: release of the first software package.

Until June 2011: shaping of the final software package as a community effort.

June 2011: release of the final software package.

September 2011: tournament.



6. PEOPLE

Organizers:
   Tristan Behrens (Clausthal University of Technology)
   Jürgen Dix (Clausthal University of Technology)
   Jomi Hübner (Federal University of Santa Catarina)
   Michael Köster (Clausthal University of Technology)
   Federico Schlesinger (Clausthal University of Technology)

Steering Committee:
   Mehdi Dastani (Utrecht University)
   Jürgen Dix (Clausthal University of Technology)
   Peter Novak (Czech Technical University)