A model driven component-based development framework for agents

Developing agent-oriented systems is still a difficult task. However, a component-based approach can help by supporting both modular modification of existing systems and construction of new systems from existing parts. In this paper we develop a foundation (conceptual model) for a component-based agent development framework by extending the concepts of the SMART framework. We apply our definitions to an existing agent application in order to both refine the definitions, and to evaluate the extent to which the model is able to support modification of existing systems. A prototype toolkit called Component Agent Framework for non-Experts (CAFnE) that implements the component framework is also explained briefly.

[1]  Yixin Diao,et al.  ABLE: A toolkit for building multiagent autonomic systems , 2002, IBM Syst. J..

[2]  Peter Norvig,et al.  Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach , 1995 .

[3]  Victor R. Lesser,et al.  The Struggle for Reuse: Pros and Cons of Generalization in TÆMS and Its Impact on Technology Transition , 2003, IASSE.

[4]  Clemens A. Szyperski,et al.  Component software - beyond object-oriented programming , 2002 .

[5]  José M. Vidal,et al.  Building Blocks for Agent Design , 2003, AOSE.

[6]  Michael Winikoff,et al.  Simplifying the Development of Intelligent Agents , 2001, Australian Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence.

[7]  Anand S. Rao,et al.  BDI Agents: From Theory to Practice , 1995, ICMAS.

[8]  Anneke Kleppe,et al.  MDA explained - the Model Driven Architecture: practice and promise , 2003, Addison Wesley object technology series.

[9]  Sally E. Durdan.  British telecommunications, PLC. , 2002 .

[10]  Michael Winikoff,et al.  Component Agent Framework for domain-Experts (CAFnE) toolkit , 2006, AAMAS '06.

[11]  Michael Wooldridge,et al.  Applications of intelligent agents , 1998 .

[12]  Paolo Busetta,et al.  Jack intelligent agents - components for intelligent agents in java , 1998 .

[13]  Michael Luck,et al.  Infrastructure Support for Agent-Based Development , 2002, Foundations and Applications of Multi-Agent Systems.

[14]  Timo Steffens,et al.  Understanding Agent Systems , 2004, Künstliche Intell..

[15]  Catholijn M. Jonker,et al.  Principles of component-based design of intelligent agents , 2002, Data Knowl. Eng..

[16]  M. Winikoff,et al.  Declarative & Procedural Goals in Intelligent Agent Systems , 2002, KR.

[17]  George T. Heineman,et al.  Component-Based Software Engineering: Putting the Pieces Together , 2001 .

[18]  NICHOLAS R. JENNINGS,et al.  An agent-based approach for building complex software systems , 2001, CACM.

[19]  Keith L. Clark,et al.  Component Based Agent Construction , 2002, Int. J. Artif. Intell. Tools.

[20]  Michael Luck,et al.  Understanding Agent Systems , 2001, Springer Series on Agent Technology.

[21]  Nicholas Carriero,et al.  Linda in context , 1989, CACM.

[22]  Anand S. Rao,et al.  An architecture for real-time reasoning and system control , 1992, IEEE Expert.

[23]  Lin Padgham,et al.  An Open Meteorological Alerting System: Issues and Solutions , 2004, ACSC.

[24]  Michael Winikoff,et al.  Declarative and procedural goals in intelligent agent systems , 2002, KR 2002.

[25]  Jaron Collis,et al.  Zeus Technical Manual , 2022 .

[26]  Michael Wooldridge,et al.  A Formal Specification of dMARS , 1997, ATAL.

[27]  Kutluhan Erol,et al.  Designing agents from reusable components , 2000, AGENTS '00.