Agents, intelligence and tools

Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent …, 2008

2005

Abstract. Whereas the notion of environment is first-class in agent-based systems by definition, its role and its potential in conceiving and developing multiagent applications has only recently been recognised. In this paper, we argue for the need of tackling the environment as a key concern in engineering multiagent systems. Considering the environment as a separate abstraction is a recognition of its importance, and creates the field of engineering MAS environments.

2008

Since its first edition in 1998, the workshop series “From Agent Theory to Agent Implementation ” has been not only documenting the progress in development and practical deployment of agent-related technologies, but also managed to contribute itself to the rapid development of this area. AT2AI promotes actively the exchange of ideas and experiences between researchers and practitioners working on the whole range of theoretical and application-oriented issues of agent technology. It encompasses both the micro and macro aspects of agent-oriented design, and discusses the relations of drawing boards and partly idealised models to modelling tools and frameworks to deployment, management and maintenance of implementations. The focus of AT2AI lies in the discussion of direct experience reports from all stakeholders, so as to remain well aware of the actual

Springer eBooks, 2006

… of the 5th international conference on …, 2007

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2015

Interfacing the agents with their environment is a classical problem when designing multiagent systems. However, the models pertaining to this interface generally choose to either embed it in the agents, or in the environment. In this position paper, we propose to highlight the role of agent bodies as primary components of the multiagent system design. We propose a tentative definition of an agent body, and discuss its responsibilities in terms of MAS components. The agent body takes from both agent and environment: low-level agent mechanisms such as perception and influences are treated locally in the agent bodies. These mechanism participate in the cognitive process, but are not driven by symbol manipulation. Furthermore, it allows to define several bodies for one mind, either to simulate different capabilities, or to interact in the different environments-physical, social-the agent is immersed in. We also draw the main challenges to apply this concept effectively.

Programming Multi-Agent Systems}

Recent approaches in Multi-Agent Systems are focusing on providing models and methodologies for the design of environments and special purpose tools supposed to scale up complexities. Among others, the Agents and Artifacts (A&A) approach introduced the notion af artifact as first class abstraction providing agents with external facilities, services and coordination medium explicitely conceived for easing their activities. In this paper we analyse A&A systems by focusing on the functional roles played by artifacts. In particular, we here investigate the function of artifacts once they are employed in the context of societies of cognitve agents, i.e. agents capable to reason about their epistemic and motivational states. In this context, a twofold kind of interactions is envisaged. On the one side, artifact rapresentational function allows agent to improve epistemic states, i.e., by representing and sharing strategic knowledge in the overall system (doxastic use). On the other side, artifacts operational function allows agents to improve the repertoire of actions, i.e., by providing additional means which can be purposively triggered by agents to achieve goals (operational use). Some of the outcomes of this approach are discussed along with test cases showing agents engaged in goal-oriented activities relying on the transmission of relevant knowledge and the operations provided by artifacts.

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 1998

2013

Agent-based technologies, developed in the Artificial Intelligence area, have become more and more important especially in more traditional Computer Science areas, like Software Engineering, where the agent abstraction is considered a natural extension of the object abstraction. The importance of these techniques is also witnessed in the industrial sector by their use in the development of tools and applications.

For the last two decades, agent-based technology has been applied to building intelligent systems. The ability of agents to make their own decisions and adapt to and learn from their environment is a very powerful tool for implementing intelligent systems of general competence. In addition, the study of multi-agent systems—collections of specialised agents working in parallel—has helped us to solve complex problems not previously solved using a centralised approach.