A Multiagent Tool to Simulate Hybrid Real/Virtual Embedded Agent Societies

Decomposing a real world problem into a multiagent solution and implementing the corresponding embedded multiagent system are difficult tasks. Agent models must be degraded in respect with resource constraints (memory, CPU) and energomic constraints. These constraints introduce deviations at two levels: the embedded agent and the whole system. This paper introduces hardware/software hybrid simulation of multiagent systems where real physical and virtual simulated agents cohabit. It presents the MultiAgent Hardware Software Simulator (MASH) and a discussion about our experience in using this tool.