The Examples of Applications of the Agent Systems - A Perspective on Agent Systems - page 120

Such complex phenomena are often found in practice and the possibility of their
simulation would make it possible to solve many problems that are encountered in
technology and science. However, their simulation may be more difficult to realize
and it is necessary to apply the new approach.
One of the examples of these phenomena, which are the subject of further consid-
erations, is the process of the heat flow in the continuous environment that is divided
into two parts—two bodies.
The flow of heat may take place between the bodies as well as within each body.
Additional difficulty is posed by the fact that the bodies relocate relative to each other
at a given speed.
We assume in this approach that the grid representing the environment constitutes
two-or three-dimensional space (depending on the character of the simulation). The
bodies existing in space are represented by certain information, characteristic of the
physical state of a given body, which can be specified by a set of parameters assigned
to a given node (Fig. 5.26 ). In the variant of simulation we present it is temperature at
a specified point of the body, mapped by the node of the grid, which is an interesting
parameter.
Let us assume that the object we consider is made of metal which is divided
into two layers—the upper and the bottom layers which come in contact. Therefore,
we have two contacting bodies with certain physical properties. The contact of two
bodies allows for the flow of heat between them (between the layers) (Fig. 5.25 ). If
at a certain chosen point of the upper body the temperature is raised (we provide
certain amount of the heat), then the process of flow or rather, in this case, the
process of heat spreading along the two bodies will be initiated. Therefore, the field
of temperatures which changes in time will be established within the area of both
bodies (both layers) till the moment the established state is achieved. If the contact of
both bodies is not a barrier in the flow of heat (as we assume), no disruptions will be
observed in the course of the flow of heat within the area of both bodies (Fig. 5.25 a).
The course of this phenomenon may be stimulated with the use of many existing
systems.

A 1 A 2 A 3

w a w b w c w d

Fig. 5.26 Schema illustrating the way of representation of bodies in the environment of the network

and agents