Wireless sensor networks, an energy-aware and utility-based BDI agent approach. (12th April 2007)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shen, Song; O'Hare, Gregory M.P.
• Is Part Of: International journal of sensor networks. Volume 2:Number 3/4(2007)
• Page Start: 235
• Page End: 245
• Publication Date: 2007-04-12
• Subjects: BDI agents -- energy aware agents -- utility based agents -- meta-level reasoning -- wireless sensor networks -- multi-agent systems -- agent-based systems -- wireless networks -- WSNs -- fuzzy sets -- fuzzy logic -- belief generation -- simulation; Sensor networks -- Periodicals; 681.2
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1748-1279

Abstract

Large-scale wireless sensor applications require that the Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) be sufficiently intelligent to make decisions or tradeoffs within a partially uncertain environment. Such intelligence is difficult to model because the sensor nodes are resource-bounded, especially on energy supply. Within this paper, we model a WSN as a two-level multiagent architecture and introduce the concept of energy-aware and utility-based Belief, Desire, Intention (BDI) agents. We subsequently formalise the fuzzy-set-based belief-generating and theoretically deduce the rules of the meta-level reasoning of a WSN. We further apply a practical reasoning algorithm which enables cost awareness and status awareness within a WSN. A Tileworld-based simulation and subsequent comparison of the effectiveness of bold, cautious and energy-aware and utility-based agents demonstrates that an energy-aware and utility-based BDI agent outperforms other traditional agents, especially when the environment is highly dynamic.