Exploring Heterogeneous Open Multi-Agent Systems on Cloud Using a Docker-Based Architecture*

In Open Multi-Agent Systems (OMAS), heterogeneous agents in varying environments or models can transition from one system to another, retaining their attributes and knowledge. This migration process results in an augmented development complexity compared to conventional Multi-Agent Systems. Additionally, the intricacy of this transition arises from uncertainties and dynamic behaviors associated with the agents' changes, necessitating the formulation of techniques to analyze this complexity and comprehend the system's overall behavior. To address these challenges, we employed Docker, which enables a flexible architecture that accommodates different programming languages and frameworks for the agents. This paper introduces a Docker-based architecture that aids OMAS development, facilitating agent migration between various models operating in heterogeneous hardware and software setups. To validate the proposed approach, we conducted simulations using NetLogo's Open Sugarscape 2 Constant Growback and JaCaMo's Gold Miners. These simulations were executed locally, in the cloud, and in a hybrid mode to assess the feasibility of the proposed architecture.