UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2012/2013
THIRD YEAR EXAMINATION FOR THE BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
BIT 4304 DISTRIBUTED INTELLIGENT AGENT
DATE: DECEMBER, 2012 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question ONE and any other TWO
QUESTION ONE
a) Describe the meaning of the following concepts
i. Distributed intelligent agent (2 Marks)
ii. Agent (2 Marks)
iii. Agent argumentation (2 Marks)
b) Distinguish between dynamic and episodic agent environments. Give one example for
each case. (4 Marks)
c) State and explain any four trends of computing that have resulted to emergence of
distributed intelligent agents (4 Marks)
d) Explain with examples four elements of an agent that can drive an autonomous car
(4 Marks)
e) Describe the meaning of the term „percept‟ as used in distributed intelligent agents.
Give an example to illustrate your answer (2 Marks)
f) Briefly explain any five properties of an agent (5 Marks)
g) Explain any three application examples of intelligent agents in information gathering
(3 Marks)
h) Distinguish between bidder and auctioneer in the context of agent auctions
(2 Marks)
QUESTION TWO
a) Describe the meaning of the following terms:
i. Hybrid agent architecture (2 Marks)
ii. Means_end reasoning (2 Marks)
iii. Ontology (2 Marks)
b) “ Intelligent behaviour can be generated without explicit abstract reasoning of the
kind that symbolic AI proposes”. Explain this statement. (2 Marks)
c) Briefly explain four limitations of symbolic architecture in distributed intelligent
agents. (4 Marks)
d) State and explain two methods used by agents to attack arguments during agent
argumentation (4 Marks)
e) Explain three parts of a speech act .Give one example to illustrate your answer
(4 Marks)
QUESTION THREE
a) Explain the following terms
i. One hop agent (2 Marks)
ii. Argument (2 Marks)
b) Distinguish between visceral and kisceral mode of arguments as used in agent
argumentation (4 Marks)
c) Describe three main parts of an argument. Give one example to illustrate your answer
(4 Marks)
d) Briefly explain five methods in which arguments interact with one another during
agent argumentation (5 Marks)
e) State and explain three Application of argumentation reasoning in distributed
intelligent agents . (3 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR
a) State and discuss the five characteristics of a good negotiation protocol (5 Marks)
b) Briefly explain characteristics of the following types of agent auctions and where
appropriate give the dominant strategy. (4 Marks)
i. Double actions
ii. Vickrey auctions
c) Briefly explain the steps of agent auction algorithm as used agent auctions
(5 Marks)
d) State and Explain two main activities of deliberation function in practical reasoning
architecture agents (2 Marks)
e) State and explain two degrees of commitment in practical reasoning architecture
(4 Marks)
QUESTION FIVE
a) Describe the following terms
i. Beliefs (2 Marks)
ii. Winner‟s Curse (2 Marks)
iii. Seller Reservation Price (2 Marks)
b) Draw a well labelled diagram of pay off matrix of prisoner‟s dilemma and identify the
following outcomes and strategies. Justify your answer for each case
(2 Marks)
i. Nash equilibrium strategies (2 Marks)
ii. Out come maximizing social welfare (2 Marks)
c) Draw a well labeled matrix to illustrate game of chicken and answer the following
questions
(2 Marks)
i. Indentify pareto efficient outcome (2 Marks)
ii. Identify dominant strategy (2 Marks)
d) Describe two methods of agent communication. Give one example for each method
(2 Marks)
