Studying the Micro-Macro-Dynamics in MAPE-Like Adaption Processes

Our overall research topics are self-organising multi-agent systems (MAS). Here, we study how to design MAS architectures, which implement adaptivity using the MAPE pattern (monitor, analyse, plan, execute). We investigate the approach of organisation-oriented MAS (Org-MAS), where one considers large-scale and agent-independent aspects of MAS, like roles, norms, positions, interaction protocols etc. When considering adaptivity in the context of Org-MAS we are confronted with two perspectives: On the one side we have the micro-level, where the agents adapt their behaviour; and on the other side we have the macro-level, where the organisation changes the network of positions, role obligations etc. We like to point out that these two perspectives are not independent from each other. This mutual adaption of the agents and the system’s structure is known as the micro-macro link. We consider the adequate modelling of the micro-macro link as an essential precondition for the design of MAPE-loops in Org-MAS since due to this mutual dependencies, the Org-MAS is more than the sum of its parts and a model that does not take them into account (or even relies one perspective only) will provide less accurate predictions about adaption effects. So, our research challenge is (1) to integrate these two perspectives – micro and macro – into the MAPE-loop with equal rights and (2) to take the micro-macro link intoi account. Here, we define the Sonar-MAPE-loop, i.e. a design for a micro-macro aware adaption.