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Towards a Unified Framework for Designing Distributed Intelligence Systems

Abstract

The core idea of this project proposal is to develop the processing units and the communication

protocols in order to implement scalable distributed neural networks, consisting in a variable

number of plug and play, self-configurable, ubiquitous computing devices (sensors, effectors,

communication hubs). Such networks are capable to learn behavioral patterns of various

systems, including humans, with immediate applications in Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) and

Industrial Control.

Keywords: Distributed Artificial Intelligence, Ambient Assisted Living, Wireless Sensor Networks,

Ubiquitous Computing, Industrial Control.

1. Introduction. The World as It is.

But mortals suppose that the gods are born (as they themselves are), and that they wear man's

clothing and have human voice and body. But if cattle or lions had hands, so as to paint with

their hands and produce works of art as men do, they would paint their gods and give them

bodies in form like their own: horses like horses, cattle like cattle. (Xenophanes of Colophon,500 BC[1]).

Everything we do is anthropomorhic and anthropocentric. This is even more obvious when it

comes to designing intelligent machines. A good example is the research in robotics. Although

very few robots actually go to Mars, we continue to design these machines following an

antropomorphic paradigm, as if they were organisms operating in a totally unpredictable and

hostile environment. In fact, in most situations, the environment in not only predictable, but

also can be manipulated to support the missions of the autonomous robot, by including sensors,

actuators, computing and communication equipment.

The idea of an intelligent environment became of acute interest in the past few years, due to

the process of accelerated ageing of the population of the developped countries, which led to

an unprecedented number of persons in need of constant attention from the medical and othersocial services ([2],[3],[4]).

Ambient Assisted Living may indeed be a solution for this kind of problems, if we will be able to

design simple, and cost effective devices that incorporate systemic intelligence: we dont need

a coffee-maker so intelligent that it is able to carry on a conversation, but we do need a system

capable to provide coffee just in time, without even asking for it.

2. What to change? Going beyond the anthropocentric paradigm

The main stakes for humanity are not hunger, poverty, sustainability, peace, healthcare,

education, economy, natural resources or a host of other issues but our capability to build new

social organizations that are able to provide solutions. Our main stake is Collective Intelligence.

(Jean-Franois Noubel, [5]).Maybe a good start on the way to obtain this collective intelligence in human society is to study

the distributed artificialintelligence. There are some interesting results in this direction (see [6])

but there is still a lot of work ahead. Linux is a good example of collective intelligence in action,

but little has been done to formalize the stigmergic cooperation involved in this achievement.

An ample report on human stigmergy ([7]) does not even mention Linux.

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I think we need a shift in our approach on designing intelligent machines. Rather than trying to

create human-like, individual intelligences, we should focus on the mechanisms for creating

distributed, collective artificial intelligence.

3. What to explore?

- Distributed artificial intelligence as a means to obtain a better insight into human to human,

and human to environment interactions.In a study about robotics [8], I proposed a new approach for modeling the marker based

stigmergy in agent swarms. The concept of virtual pheromones defined there was directly

applied in a pattent application ([9]) describing a solution for improving the existing GPS

navigation devices used by road vehicles.

In another study ([10]), I suggested that, for any multi-layer perceptron there exists an

equivalent distributed artificial neural network, wherein each neuron is implemented by a

distinct microcontroller, and the synapses are defined in the communication process.

In this approach, a network of low cost sensors, such as PIR motion detectors, would be capable

to learn the activity patterns of the inhabitants of a building, detect significant deviations from

the daily routine, and control some effectors when needed. E.g. if a person that usually wakes

up at 6.00 am is still in bed at 8.00 am, this could be a sign of attention, if that person suffers

from a chronic disease.

No central processing units, and no special software/middleware is required for the

implementation of this solution: just the sensors/effectors and the communication protocols.

4. Specific actions during the fellowship

- Define a solution for designing the processing units, communication interfaces and protocols in

order to implement scalable distributed neural networks, consisting in a (variable) number of

plug and play, self-configurable, ubiquitous computing devices (sensors, effectors,

communication hubs)

- Find solutions for training such a network

- Identify applications of this technique (neural netwoks over the world wide web?)

- Publish the results in an appropriate open access journal.References

[1] Lesher, J.H. (1992),Xenophanes of Colophon: Fragments: A Text and Translation With a Commentary,

Univ of Toronto Press; ISBN: 0802059902

[2] Magnus G., The Age of Aging: How Demographics are Changing the Global Economy and Our World,

John Wiley & Sons, 2008

[3] UK National Statistics Office http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=949

[4] Steg H, Strese H, Loroff C, Hull J, Schmidt S (2006) Europe Is Facing a Demographic Challenge: Ambient

Assisted Living Offers Solutions. IST Project Report on Ambient Assisted Living

[5] Jean-Franois Noubel, Collective Intelligence, The Invisible Revolution, www.TheTransitioner.org/ci

[6] Martijn C. Schut, On model design for simulation of collective intelligence, Information Sciences Vol.

180, Issue 1, 2 January 2010, Pages 132-155

[7] H. Van Dyke Parunak, Expert Assessment of Human-Human Stigmergy, Defence R&D Canada contractreport DRDC CR 2005-003