7.1.8 - Outline the role of autonomous agents acting within a larger system.

Question 1

What are autonomous agents in a larger system?

Answer 1

Autonomous agents are software programs or devices that act independently based on state changes in their environment, responding without direct instructions, but in the interest of their owner.

Question 2

What is an example of autonomous agents in action?

Answer 2

Examples include self-driving cars and drone swarms, which operate independently to achieve goals such as transportation or parcel delivery.

Question 3

What are the key characteristics of autonomous agents?

Answer 3

Autonomous agents are autonomous (select subtasks independently), reactive (respond to environmental inputs), social (interact with other agents), and persistent (continuously work towards a goal).

Question 4

How do autonomous agents demonstrate autonomy?

Answer 4

Autonomy allows agents to independently select subtasks to achieve larger goals, like a drone autonomously choosing a path to deliver a parcel.

Question 5

What is reactivity in autonomous agents?

Answer 5

Reactivity refers to an agent’s ability to sense changes in its environment and react accordingly, like a drone adjusting its movement in response to wind.

Question 6

What is concurrency or sociality in autonomous agents?

Answer 6

Concurrency (sociality) is the ability of agents to interact with other agents in cooperative, competitive, or coordinated ways to achieve goals.

Question 7

What does persistence mean in autonomous agents?

Answer 7

Persistence refers to an agent’s continuous effort to work towards its goal without stopping, ensuring consistent progress towards completing its task.