From Here to Autonomicity: Self-Managing Agents and the Biological Metaphors that Inspire Them

Abstract

We seek inspiration for self-managing systemsfrom (obviously, pre-existing) biological mechanisms.Autonomic Computing (AC), a self-managing systemsinitiative based on the biological metaphor of theautonomic nervous system, is increasingly gainingmomentum as the way forward for integrating anddesigning reliable systems, while agent technologieshave been identified as a key enabler for engineeringautonomicity in systems. This paper looks at otherbiological metaphors such as reflex and healing, heartbeatmonitors, pulse monitors and apoptosis forassisting in the realization of autonomicity