FoCAS2013

Collective Adaptive Systems (CASs) is a broad term that describes a large scale system that is comprised of many units/nodes, each of which may have their own individual properties, objectives and actions. Decision-making in such a system is distributed and possibly highly dispersed, and interaction between the units may lead to the emergence of unexpected phenomena. CASs are open, in that nodes may enter or leave the collective at any time, and boundaries between CASs are fluid. The units can be highly heterogeneous (computers, robots, agents, devices, biological entities, etc.), each operating at different temporal and spatial scales, and having different (potentially conflicting) objectives and goals.

Our society increasingly depends on such systems, in which collections of heterogeneous ‘technological’ nodes are tightly entangled with human and social structures to form ‘artificial societies’. Yet, to properly exploit them, we need to develop a deeper scientific understanding of the principles by which they operate, in order to better design them.

This workshop solicits conceptual papers that address new methodologies, theories and principles that can be used in order to develop a better understanding of the fundamental factors underpinning the operation of such systems, so that we can better design, build, analyse such systems.

The workshop will be structured around a number of discussion sessions which will attempt to define the future research landscape for this new area, centred on the conceptual papers presented. It is the intention of the workshop organisers to coordinate the writing of a journal paper following the workshop, working closely with participants who wish to contribute, in order to describe the research landscape and scope a future agenda for research.

Suggested Topics (but not limited to):

• Novel theories relating to operating principles of CAS
• Novel design principles for building CAS systems
• Insights into the Evolutionary Properties
• Insights into Emergent Properties
• Insights into general properties of large scale, distributed CAS
• Methodologies for studying, analysing and building CAS
• Frameworks for analysing or developing CAS
• Case-studies/Scenarios that can be used to investigate CAS properties
  
  The workshop will be structured around a number of discussion sessions which will attempt to define the future research landscape for this new area, centred on the conceptual papers presented. It is the intention of the workshop organisers to coordinate the writing of a journal paper following the workshop, working closely with participants who wish to contribute, in order to describe the research landscape and scope a future agenda for research.