Studies of dynamics of physical agent ecosystems

This thesis addresses the problem of learning in physical heterogeneous multi-agent systems (MAS) and the analysis of the benefits of using heterogeneous MAS with respect to homogeneous ones. An algorithm is developed for this task; building on a previous work on stability in distributed systems by Tad Hogg and Bernardo Huberman, and combining two phenomena observed in natural systems, task partition and hierarchical dominance. This algorithm is devised for allowing agents to learn which are the best tasks to perform on the basis of each agent's skills and the contribution to the team global performance. Agents learn by interacting with the environment and other teammates, and get rewards from the result of the actions they perform. This algorithm is specially designed for problems where all robots have to co-operate and work simultaneously towards the same goal. One example of such a problem is role distribution in a team of heterogeneous robots that form a soccer team, where all members take decisions and co-operate simultaneously. Soccer offers the possibility of conducting research in MAS, where co-operation plays a very important role in a dynamical and changing environment. For these reasons and the experience of the University of Girona in this domain, soccer has been selected as the test-bed for this research. In the case of soccer, tasks are grouped by means of roles. One of the most interesting features of this algorithm is that it endows MAS with a high adaptability to changes in the environment. It allows the team to perform their tasks, while adapting to the environment. This is studied in several cases, for changes in the environment and in the robot's body. Other features are also analysed, especially a parameter that defines the fitness (biological concept) of each agent in the system, which contributes to performance and team adaptability. The algorithm is applied later to allow agents to learn in teams of homogeneous and heterogeneous robots which roles they have to select, in order to maximise team performance. The teams are compared and the performance is evaluated in the games against three hand-coded teams and against the different homogeneous and heterogeneous teams built in this thesis. This section focuses on the analysis of performance and task partition, in order to study the benefits of heterogeneity in physical MAS. In order to study heterogeneity from a rigorous point of view, a diversity measure is developed building on the hierarchic social entropy defined by Tucker Balch. This is adapted to quantify physical diversity in robot teams. This tool presents very interesting features, as it can be used in the future to design heterogeneous teams on the basis of the knowledge on other teams.

Teoría del hardware adaptada a los ciclos formativos de grado superior de informática.

Manual adaptado a los ciclos formativos superiores de informática sobre teoría del hardware, estructurado en seis capítulos cuyos contenidos son: introducción a la informática, representación interna de la información (sistemas, conversión, representación y codificación) la estructura del ordenador, la memoria interna, los microprocesadores y los periféricos.

Teoría de sistemas operativos adaptada a los ciclos formativos de grado superior de informática.

Manual adaptado a los ciclos formativos superiores de informática sobre teoría de sistemas operativos, estructurado en cinco capítulos cuyos contenidos son: introducción a los sistemas operativos, gestión del procesador, gestión de memoria, gestión de entrada y salida y gestión del sistema de ficheros.

Computación e Internet para docentes : nuevas tecnologías de la informática y la comunicación : recursos para el aula y la administración.

Los niños están adquiriendo, mucho más rápidamente que los adultos, una gran destreza para el uso de las herramientas de los ordenadores. Desde pequeños comienzan a familiarizarse con el uso del ratón. Esto requiere que los profesores comienzen a asimilar y dominar las herramientas de los ordenadores..

Informática para estudiantes.

Resumen tomado de la publicación

Aplicación informática interactiva sobre la promoción de la Ley de Protección Integral de la Niñez y Adolescencia (LEPINA), orientada a estudiantes de primero, segundo y tercer ciclo de los Centros Educativos del Municipio de San Vicente, Departamento de San Vicente

Este documento describe una investigación, para identificar el desconocimiento de los estudiantes de primero a noveno grado de los Centros Escolares del municipio de San Vicente, sobre la LEPINA (Ley de Protección Integral de la Niñez y Adolescencia); y a su vez el desarrollo de una aplicación informática interactiva para divulgar dicha ley. La aplicación consta de tres módulos (Primero, Segundo y Tercer Ciclo), los cuales incluyen diversas actividades acordes al nivel académico de los estudiantes, para que conozcan sus derechos y deberes. Finalizada la investigación se comprobó que los estudiantes desconocen la LEPINA, por lo que la aplicación constituye una herramienta importante en la divulgación de dicha ley, ya que además, el contenido de la aplicación fue aprobado por la Sub dirección de políticas del CONNA (Consejo Nacional de la Niñez y Adolescencia). SUMMARY. This document describes a research to identify the ignorance of students from first to ninth grade of schools in the municipality of San Vicente, about the LEPINA (Law of Integral Protection of the Childhood and Adolescence); and also the development of an interactive computer application to disseminate this law. The application consists of three modules (First, Second and Third Cycle), which include various activities according to the academic level of the students, so they know their rights and duties. After the investigation it was found that students do not know the LEPINA, so the application is an important tool in the dissemination of this law, as also the content of the computer application was approved by the Subdirection of policies CONNA (National Council of the Childhood and Adolescence).

Roteamento sensível ao contexto em redes de sensores sem fio : uma abordagem baseada em regras de aplicação para o Protocolo RPL

Este trabalho apresenta um serviço de reconfiguração dinâmica para Redes de Sensores sem Fio. O trabalho inclui o projeto e a definição de uma arquitetura conceitual que suporta a coleta de uma variedade de informações contextuais e provê uma abstração alto nível para especificação de roteamento sensível ao contexto através de reconfiguração de métricas de roteamento e parâmetros de comunicação. O objetivo da infraestrutura proposta é possibilitar a criação de regras que adaptem o comportamento da rede em tempo de execução, em função dessas informações contextuais. Uma implementação da arquitetura para o protocolo RPL e o sistema operacional Contiki foi realizada, mostrando a viabilidade da abordagem proposta.