Design of a Modelling Framework for Multi-Agent Systems*

Artificial Intelligence GroupDepartment of Mathematics and Computer ScienceVrije Universiteit AmsterdamDe Boelelaan 1081a, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The NetherlandsEmail: {frances,patveck,treur}@cs.vu.nlAbstract Multi-agent systems can be successfully modelled and specified asinteracting complex components in a compositional architecture. Compared to thespecification of single agent compositional systems, the specification of multi-agentsystems requires additional design (or modelling) choices. In this paper, designchoices regarding interaction and autonomy of compositional models of intelligentagents are investigated. The choices made have implications for the specificationframework, especially for its mechanisms for information exchange and task control.The influence of the modelling choices is discussed for the modelling frameworkDESIRE, a specific framework for compositional systems in particular for thespecification of intelligent autonomous agents. Alternatives for the choices made inDESIRE are also presented.

[1]  D. Mcdonald,et al.  ARCHON : A DISTRIBUTED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS , 1995 .

[2]  Nicholas R. Jennings,et al.  Modelling Distributed Industrial Processes in a Multi-Agent Framework , 1997 .

[3]  Nicholas R. Jennings,et al.  ARCHON: a distributed artificial intelligence system for industrial application , 1996 .

[4]  Olivier Corby,et al.  Agent-Based Knowledge Acquisition , 1994, EKAW.

[5]  Michael Luck,et al.  A Formal Framework for Agency and Autonomy , 1995, ICMAS.

[6]  Nicholas R. Jennings,et al.  Agent Theories, Architectures, and Languages: A Survey , 1995, ECAI Workshop on Agent Theories, Architectures, and Languages.

[7]  Jan Treur,et al.  Formal Specification of Compositional Architectures , 1992, ECAI.

[8]  Jan Treur,et al.  Compositional Formal Specification of Multi-Agent Systems , 1994, ECAI Workshop on Agent Theories, Architectures, and Languages.

[9]  Nicholas R. Jennings,et al.  Controlling Cooperative Problem Solving in Industrial Multi-Agent Systems Using Joint Intentions , 1995, Artif. Intell..

[10]  Robbert van Renesse,et al.  Amoeba A Distributed Operating System for the 1990 s Sape , 1990 .

[11]  Jeff Kramer,et al.  Distributed software engineering , 1994, Proceedings of 16th International Conference on Software Engineering.

[12]  Jan Treur,et al.  A Formal Model for the Dynamics of Compositional Reasoning Systems , 1994, ECAI.

[13]  Nicholas R. Jennings,et al.  Formal Specification of Multi-Agent Systems: A Real-World Case , 1995, ICMAS.

[14]  Cristiano Castelfranchi,et al.  Guarantees for Autonomy in Cognitive Agent Architecture , 1995, ECAI Workshop on Agent Theories, Architectures, and Languages.

[15]  Michael Wooldridge,et al.  Specifying and Verifying Distributed Intelligence Systems , 1993, EPIA.

[16]  Jan Treur,et al.  Temporal Theories of Reasoning , 1995, J. Appl. Non Class. Logics.

[17]  Tom Rodden,et al.  Requirements Engineering for Cooperative Systems , 1994 .