Skip to main content

Multi-agent Systems Development as a Software Engineering Enterprise

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 1551))

Abstract

Multi-Agent Systems provide an ideal level of abstraction for modelling complex applications where distributed and heterogeneous entities need to cooperate to achieve a common goal, or to concur for the control of shared resources. This paper proposes a declarative framework for developing multi-agent systems. A formal approach based on Logic Programming is proposed for the specification, implementation and testing of software prototypes. Specification of the PRS agent architecture is given as an example of application of our framework.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. P. Dart, E. Kazmierckaz, M. Martelli, V. Mascardi, L. Sterling, V.S. Subrahmanian, and F. Zini. Combining Logical Agents with Rapid Prototyping for Engineering Distributed Applications. Submitted to FASE’99.

    Google Scholar 

  2. G. Delzanno. Logic & Object-Oriented Programming in Linear Logic PhD thesis, Università di Pisa, Dipartimento di Informatica, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  3. M. d’Inverno, M. Fisher, A. Lomuscio, M. Luck, M. de Rijke, M. Ryan, and M. Wooldridge. Formalisms for Multi-Agent Systems. The Knowledge Engineering Review, 12(3), 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  4. M. d’Inverno, D. Kinny, M. Luck, and M. Wooldridge. A Formal Specification of dMARS. In Intelligent Agents IV. Springer-Verlag, 1997. LNAI 1365.

    Google Scholar 

  5. M. Fisher, J. Mueller, M. Schroeder, G. Staniford, and G. Wagner. Methodological Foundations for Agent-Based Systems. The Knowledge Engineering Review, 12(3), 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  6. M. Georgeff and A. Lansky. Reactive Reasoning and Planning. In Proc. of the Sixth National Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AAAI-87), Seattle, WA, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  7. C. A. Iglesias, J. C. Gonzáles, and J. R. Velasco. MIX: A General Purpose Multiagent Architecture. In Intelligent Agents II. Springer-Verlag, 1995. LNAI 1037.

    Google Scholar 

  8. R. Kowalsky and F. Sadri. Towards a Unified Agent Architecture that Combines Rationality with Reactivity. In Proc. of International Workshop on Logic in Databases, San Miniato, Italy, 1996. Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Y. Lesperance, H. Levesque, F. Lin, D. Marcu, R. Reiter, and R. B. Scherl. Foundations of a Logical Approach to Agent Programming. In Intelligent Agents II. Springer-Verlag, 1995. LNAI 1037.

    Google Scholar 

  10. S. W. Locke, L. Sterling, L. Sonenberg, and H. Kim. ARIS: A Shell for Information Agents that Exploit Web Site Structure. In Proc. of PAAM’98, London, UK, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  11. M. Martelli, V. Mascardi, and F. Zini. Towards Multi-Agent Software Prototyping. In Proc. of PAAM’98, London, UK, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  12. D. L. Martin, A. J. Cheyer, and D. B. Moran. Building Distributed Software Systems with the Open Agent Architecture. In Proc. of PAAM’98, London, UK, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  13. J. Mayfield, Y. Labrou, and T. Finin. Evaluation of KQML as an Agent Communication Language. In Intelligent Agents II. Springer-Verlag, 1995. LNAI 1037.

    Google Scholar 

  14. D. Miller. Forum: A Multiple-Conclusion Specification Logic. Theoretical Computer Science, 165(1), 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  15. M. Mulder, J. Treur, and M. Fisher. Agent Modelling in METATEM and DESIRE. In Intelligent Agents IV. Springer-Verlag, 1997. LNAI 1365.

    Google Scholar 

  16. D. T. Ndumu and H. S. Nwana. Research and development challenges for agent-based systems. IEE Proc. of Software Engineering, 144(1), 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  17. H. S. Nwana, D. T. Ndumu, and L. C. Lee. ZEUS: An Advanced Tool-Kit for Engineering Distributed Multi-Agent Systems. In Proc. of PAAM’98, London, UK, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  18. A. S. Rao and M. Georgeff. BDI Agents: from Theory to Practice. In Proc. of ICMAS’95, San Francisco, CA, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  19. M. Spivey. The Z Notation (second edition). Prentice Hall International, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  20. M. Wooldridge. Agent-based Software Engineering. IEE Proc. of Software Engineering, 144(1), 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  21. M. Wooldridge and N. R. Jennings. Intelligent Agents: Theory and Practice. The Knowledge Engineering Review, 10(2), 1995.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1998 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Bozzano, M., Delzanno, G., Martelli, M., Mascardi, V., Zini, F. (1998). Multi-agent Systems Development as a Software Engineering Enterprise. In: Gupta, G. (eds) Practical Aspects of Declarative Languages. PADL 1999. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 1551. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-49201-1_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-49201-1_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-65527-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-49201-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics