title: Dynamics of Complex Systems Built as Coupled Physical, Communication and Decision Layers.
abstract: This paper proposes a simple model to capture the complexity of multilayer systems where their constituent layers affect, and are affected by, each other. The physical layer is a circuit composed by a power source and resistors in parallel. Every individual agent aims at maximizing its own delivered power by adding, removing or keeping the resistors it has; the delivered power is in turn a non-linear function that depends on the other agents' behavior, its own internal state, its global state perception, the information received from its neighbors via the communication network and a randomized selfishness. We develop an agent-based simulation to analyze the effects of number of agents (system size), communication network topology, communication errors and the minimum power gain that triggers a behavioral change on the system dynamic. Our results show that a wave-like behavior at macro-level (caused by individual changes in the decision layer) can only emerge for a specific system size. The ratio between cooperators and defectors depends on the minimum gain assumed-lower minimal gains lead to less cooperation, and vice-versa. Different communication network topologies imply different levels of power utilization and fairness at the physical layer, and a certain level of error in the communication layer induces more cooperation.
authors.affiliation: University of Oulu, Department of Communications Engineering, Oulu, FI-90014, Finland.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kühnlenz
authors.affiliation: University of Oulu, Department of Communications Engineering, Oulu, FI-90014, Finland.
authors.forename: Pedro H J
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Nardelli
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003142:Communication; D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008962:Models, Theoretical