A Verification Framework for Normative Multi-Agent Systems

2006

We present MABLE, a fully implemented programming language for multiagent systems, which is intended to support the automatic verification of such systems via model checking. In addition to the conventional constructs of imperative programming languages, MABLE provides a number of agent-oriented development features. First, agents in MABLE are endowed with a BDI-like mental state: they have data structures corresponding to beliefs, desires, and intentions, and these mental states may be arbitrarily nested.

2003

In this paper we present a n i n tegrated formal framework for the speci cation and analysis of Multi-Agent Systems MAS. Agents are speci ed in a synchronous programming language called Secure Operations Language SOL which supports the modular development o f secure agents. Multi-agent systems are constructed from individual agent m o dules by using the composition operator of SOL, the semantics of which are guaranteed to preserve certain individual agent properties. The formal semantics and the underlying framework of SOL also serve as the basis for analysis and transformation techniques such as abstraction, consistency checking, veri cation by model checking or theorem proving, and automatic synthesis of agent code. Based on this framework, we are currently developing a suite of analysis and transformation tools for the formal speci cation, analysis, and synthesis of multi-agent systems. Report Documentation Page Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number.

2008

There is an increasing number of agent-oriented programming languages that have working interpreters and platforms, with significant progress in the quality of such platforms over the last few years. With these platforms becoming more popular, and multi-agent systems being increasingly used for safety-critical applications, the need for verification techniques that apply to systems written in such languages is proportionally intensified. Building on our previous work on model checking for a particular agent-oriented programming language, we have developed a new approach whereby model checking techniques can be used directly on a variety of such languages. The approach also supports the verification of multi-agent systems where individual agents have been programmed in different agent languages.

2008

There is an increasing number of agent-oriented programming lan- guages that have working interpreters and platforms, with signif- icant progress in the quality of such platforms over the last few years. With these platforms becoming more popular, and multi- agent systems being increasingly used for safety-critical applica- tions, the need for verification techniques that apply to systems written in such languages is proportionally intensified. Building on our previous work on model checking for a particular agent- oriented programming language, we have developed a new ap- proach whereby model checking techniques can be used directly on a variety of such languages. The approach also supports the ver- ification of multi-agent systems where individual agents have been programmed in different agent languages.

2008 23rd IEEE/ACM International Conference on Automated Software Engineering, 2008

In this paper, we show that the flexible modelchecking of multi-agent systems, implemented using agentoriented programming languages, is viable thus paving the way for the construction of verifiably correct applications of autonomous agents and multi-agent systems. Model checking experiments were carried out on AJPF (Agent JPF), our extension of Java PathFinder that incorporates the Agent Infrastructure Layer, our unifying framework for agent programming languages. In our approach, properties are specified in a temporal language extended with (shallow) agent-related modalities. The framework then allows the verification of programs written in a variety of agent programming languages, thus removing the need for individual languages to implement their own verification framework. It even allows the verification of multi-agent systems comprised of agents developed in a variety of different (agent) programming languages. As an example, we also provide model checking results for the verification of a multi-agent system implementing a well-known task sharing protocol.

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2003

In this paper we develop a logical framework for specifying and verifying systems of communicating agents. The framework is based on a Dynamic Linear Time Temporal Logic (DLTL). It provides a simple formalization of the communicative actions in terms of their effects and preconditions and the specification of an interaction protocol by means of temporal constraints. We adopt a social approach to agent communication (as proposed by Singh): communication can be described in terms of changes in the social relations between participants, and protocols in terms of creation, manipulation and satisfaction of commitments among agents. The description of the interaction protocol and of communicative actions is given in a temporal action theory, and agent programs, when known, can be specified as complex actions (regular programs in DLTL). The paper addresses several kinds of verification problems (including the problem of compliance of agents to the protocol), which can be formalized either as validity or as satisfiability problems in the temporal logic and can be solved by model checking techniques. 1 A closely related approach was proposed by Labrou and Finin [15] to define a semantics for KQML.

2010

We present a tool environment with a constraint logic programming core, that allows us to specify multi-agent systems graphically and verify them automatically. This combines the advantages of graphical notations from software engineering and formal methods. We demonstrate this on a Robocup rescue scenario.

1995

In this paper the framework DESIRE, originally designed for formal specification of complex reasoning systems is used to specify a real-world multi-agent application on a conceptual level. Some extensions to DESIRE are introduced to obtain a useful formal specification framework for multi-agent systems.

International Conference on Multiagent Systems, 1995

Inthis paper the framework DESIRE, originally designed for formal specification of complex reasoning systems,is used ,to specify ,a real-world ,multi-agent application on a,conceptual level. Some extensions to DESIRE are introduced ,to obtain ,a useful ,formal specification framework,for multi-agent systems.

Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, 2006

This paper gives an overview of our recent work on an approach to verifying multi-agent programs. We automatically translate multi-agent systems programmed in the logic-based agent-oriented programming language AgentSpeak into either Promela or Java, and then use the associated Spin and JPF model checkers to verify the resulting systems. We also describe the simplified BDI logical language that is used to write the properties we want the systems to satisfy. The approach is illustrated by means of a simple case study.

2013

Automated Software Engineering, 2012

CEUR-WS.org eBooks, 2010

The concept of Normative Systems can be used in the scope of Multi-Agent Systems to provide reliable contexts of interactions between agents where acceptable behaviour is specified in terms of norms. Literature on the topic is growing rapidly, and there is a considerable amount of theoretical frameworks for normative environments, some in the form of Electronic Institutions. Most of these approaches focus on regulative norms rather than on substantive norms, and lack a proper implementation of the ontological connection between brute events and institutional facts. In this paper we present a formalism for the monitoring of both regulative (deontic) and substantive (constitutive) norms based on Structural Operational Semantics, its reduction to Production Systems semantics and our current implementation compliant to these semantics.

Frontiers in Robotics and AI, 2018

Incorrect operations of a Multi-Robot System (MRS) may not only lead to unsatisfactory results, but can also cause economic losses and threats to safety. These threats may not always be apparent, since they may arise as unforeseen consequences of the interactions between elements of the system. This call for tools and techniques that can help in providing guarantees about MRSs behaviour. We think that, whenever possible, these guarantees should be backed up by formal proofs to complement traditional approaches based on testing and simulation. We believe that tailored linguistic support to specify MRSs is a major step towards this goal. In particular, reducing the gap between typical features of an MRS and the level of abstraction of the linguistic primitives would simplify both the specification of these systems and the verification of their properties. In this work, we review different agent-oriented languages and their features; we then consider a selection of case studies of interest and implement them useing the surveyed languages. We also evaluate and compare effectiveness of the proposed solution, considering, in particular, easiness of expressing non-trivial behaviour.

ArXiv, 2018

Incorrect operations of a Multi-Robot System (MRS) may not only lead to unsatisfactory results, but can also cause economic losses and threats to safety. These threats may not always be apparent, since they may arise as unforeseen consequences of the interactions between elements of the system. This call for tools and techniques that can help in providing guarantees about MRSs behaviour. We think that, whenever possible, these guarantees should be backed up by formal proofs to complement traditional approaches based on testing and simulation. We believe that tailored linguistic support to specify MRSs is a major step towards this goal. In particular, reducing the gap between typical features of an MRS and the level of abstraction of the linguistic primitives would simplify both the specification of these systems and the verification of their properties. In this work, we review different agent-oriented languages and their features; we then consider a selection of case studies of inte...