Using polymorphism to create complex agents

2 The Polymorphism Model Using polymorphism, an object model was developed to create complex agents from a collection of independent and interdependent sub-agents. Polymorphism is key because it allows sub-agents to be treated equally, despite any functional disparity. The framework presented facilitates system extensibility and minimizes overall software maintenance through reuse and abstraction. Motivating this effort was the Chesapeake Bay Observing System (CBOS), which is in part a buoy-based remote-sensing system providing on-line information to the Internet. CBOS is attractive as an agent problem because it provides a broad problem domain: requiring a simple scaleable application which could automatically collect and manage data, as well as generate reports and dynamic WWW content. A software package was developed to support these features, and lead to the evolution of the model presented. The intent of this project was to create a modular system composed of simple, yet capable parts; which when combined could support a dynamic sub-agent population and still allow inter-component communication. These requirements form the basis for a complex system; a system composed of simpler parts. Or more clearly, we have a complex agent which is an agent composed of simpler parts, or ‘sub-agents.’