MSE Master of Science in Engineering

The Swiss engineering master's degree


Each module contains 3 ECTS. You choose a total of 10 modules/30 ECTS in the following module categories: 

  • 12-15 ECTS in technical scientific modules (TSM)
    TSM modules teach profile-specific specialist skills and supplement the decentralised specialisation modules.
  • 9-12 ECTS in fundamental theoretical principles modules (FTP)
    FTP modules deal with theoretical fundamentals such as higher mathematics, physics, information theory, chemistry, etc. They will teach more detailed, abstract scientific knowledge and help you to bridge the gap between abstraction and application that is so important for innovation.
  • 6-9 ECTS in context modules (CM)
    CM modules will impart additional skills in areas such as technology management, business administration, communication, project management, patent law, contract law, etc.

In the module description (download pdf) you find the entire language information per module divided into the following categories:

  • instruction
  • documentation
  • examination 
Multi-Agent Systems (FTP_MultiASys)

Natural, social, and engineered complex systems can be modelled as being composed of agents interacting with one another and their environment. This course introduces students to the theory, tools and techniques for understanding and solving problems related to such systems. 

The course is composed of two parts. In the first one, both cooperative and selfish agents and interactions between them will be discussed. The methodological support will be provided by game theory.  

In the second part, the focus will be on the study and analysis of models of systems in the aim of understanding the conditions under which certain properties can emerge. Based on this, mechanisms to impede possible undesired behaviour of systems and to stir the desired dynamics will be developed.

Throughout the course, several application areas such as cooperation and competition, social networks, opinion dynamics and social influence will be discussed.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of probability, algebra, calculus and differential equations. Basics of procedural programming and ability to implement small programs in an arbitrary language, e.g. Python, Matlab, R, Java, C#, C++, C, etc.

Learning Objectives

A successful participant of this course is able to

-   understand the rationale of multi-agent systems, modelling and simulation.

-   model scenarios with multiple interacting agents in the language of game theory

-   evaluate the feasibility of achieving goals with agents using game theory

-   learn to choose the appropriate class of models with agents to characterise different complex systems

-   implement in an efficient way a model of a system, then visualise, understand and analyse the corresponding outputs

Contents of Module

-   Multi-agent interaction: games in normal form, dominant strategies, Nash equilibria, Pareto optimality, partial observability, Bayesian games, cooperative and coalition games, repeated games, multi-agent learning.

-   Population dynamics: evolutionarily stable strategies, Replicator’s dynamics

-   Network dynamics: Small world phenomenon, epidemics

-   Multi-agent simulation: Cellular automata and the Game of life, demographic games, opinion dynamics and social influence. 

Teaching and Learning Methods

-   Lectures

-   Exercises and homework

-   Practical work with appropriate tools and group project

-   Literature studies

Literature

-    A Concise Introduction to Multi-Agent Systems and Distributed Artificial Intelligence. Nikos Vlassis. Morgan & Claypool Publishers, 2007.          

-   Introduction to Multi-Agent Systems - 2nd Edition. Michael Wooldridge. John Wiley & Sons, 2009. 

-   Multi-Agent Systems. Yoav Shoham and Kevin Leyton-Brown. Cambridge University Press, 2009.

-   Generative Social Science. Joshua Epstein. Princeton University Press, 2006.

Download full module description

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