An Evolutionary Framework for Large-Scale Experimentation in Multi-Agent Systems

We discuss a construction of an evolutionary framework for conducting large-scale experiments in multi-agent systems for applications in electronic marketplaces. We describe how the evolutionary framework could be used as a platform for systematic testing of agent strategies and illustrate the idea with results from a simple supply-demand model. We further explain how to integrate the proposed framework in an existing multi-agent system and demonstrate our approach in the context of MAGNET, a multi-agent system where agents bid over complex combinations of tasks with time and precedence constraints.