Rigorous engineering of collective adaptive systems – 2nd special section

Abstract

An adaptive system is able to adapt at runtime to dynamically changing environments and to new requirements. Adaptive systems can be single adaptive entities or collective ones that consist of several collaborating entities. Rigorous engineering requires appropriate methods and tools that help guaranteeing that an adaptive system lives up to its intended purpose. This paper introduces the special section on “Rigorous Engineering of Collective Adaptive Systems.” It presents the 11 contributions of the section categorizing them into five distinct research lines: correctness by design and synthesis, computing with bio-inspired communication, new system models, machine learning, and programming and analyzing ensembles.

Editorial: Understanding and engineering cyber-physical collectives

“…Aldini shows the path of formal languages to support the flexible modelling and verification of CPCs (cf. Wirsing et al, 2023 ). The mobility of agents in CPCs is addressed by Giusti et al , covering geometric pattern formation, Baumann et al , proposing microscopic models for collective movement such as flocking, and Kano et al , proposing an active sensing-based control strategy for efficient collision avoidance.…”

“…CPCs can be approached from several theoretical and engineering perspectives. Informative, but non-exhaustive, exemplars include: • cyber-physical and hybrid systems ( Cassandras and Lafortune, 2008 ; Kim and Kumar 2012 ); • coordination models and languages ( Malone and Crowston, 1994 ; Ciatto et al, 2020 ); • autonomic computing and self-* systems ( Kephart and Chess, 2003 ; de Lemos et al, 2010 ; Bellman et al, 2021 ; Harvey et al, 2021 ); • artificial life ( Aguilar et al, 2014 ; Gershenson, 2023 ); • multi-agent systems (MASs) ( Wooldridge, 2009 ; Mascardi et al, 2019 ; Boissier et al, 2020 ); • grammar systems ( Klavins et al, 2006 ; Csuhaj-Varjú et al, 2018 ); • swarm robotics ( Brambilla et al, 2013 ; Dorigo et al, 2021 ); • collective intelligence ( Malone and Bernstein, 2022 ; Casadei, 2023a ); • complex adaptive systems ( Bucchiarone and Mongiello, 2019 ; Abeywickrama et al, 2020 ; Wirsing et al, 2023 ); • multi-agent reinforcement learning ( Zhang et al, 2019 ); and • macro-programming ( Júnior et al, 2022 ; Casadei, 2023b ). …”

“…• complex adaptive systems ( Bucchiarone and Mongiello, 2019 ; Abeywickrama et al, 2020 ; Wirsing et al, 2023 );…”

“…However, the inherent complexity of such systems in terms of heterogeneity, scale, non-linear interaction, and emergent behaviour calls for scientific and engineering ideas, methods, and tools (cf. Wirsing et al (2023);Dorigo et al (2021);Brambilla et al (2013);Casadei (2023a;b)). This Research Topic gathers contributions related to understanding and engineering cyber-physical collectives.CPCs can be approached from several theoretical and engineering perspectives.…”

“…• multi-agent systems (MASs) (Wooldridge, 2009;Mascardi et al, 2019;Boissier et al, 2020); • grammar systems (Klavins et al, 2006;Csuhaj-Varjú et al, 2018); • swarm robotics (Brambilla et al, 2013;Dorigo et al, 2021); • collective intelligence (Malone and Bernstein, 2022;Casadei, 2023a); • complex adaptive systems (Bucchiarone and Mongiello, 2019;Abeywickrama et al, 2020;Wirsing et al, 2023); • multi-agent reinforcement learning (Zhang et al, 2019); and • macro-programming (Júnior et al, 2022;Casadei, 2023b).…”