Multi-Agent Simulation as a Tool for Modeling Societies: Application to Social Differentiation in Ant Colonies

Alexis Drogoul, Jacques Ferber

Abstract: This paper presents the notion of multi-agent simulation that is based on the definition of computational agents that represent individual organisms (or groups of organisms) in a one to one correspondence. We discuss the properties of multi-agent simulation. We then present a multiagent simulation system based on the definition of reactive agents whose behavior is governed by the selection of simple competing tasks due to stimulus's perception. An example of a simulation of an ant colony follows as an illustration of the multiple domains in which multi-agent simulation may be used.