Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

MAS as Complex Systems: A View on the Role of Declarative Approaches

  • Conference paper
Declarative Agent Languages and Technologies (DALT 2003)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 2990))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

The ever growing complexity of software systems calls for new forms of understanding and conceptual tools. It has been argued that some “Laws of Complexity” exist, which govern the behaviour of complex systems of any sort, from natural to artificial ones.

Along this line, in this paper we draw from the most recent findings of evolutionary biology to develop an original view over Multiagent Systems (MAS). A schema for a “layered”, hierarchical view of MAS is introduced, aimed at providing computer scientists and engineers with a powerful conceptual framework for MAS observation / modelling / construction. We first introduce the three levels of the hierarchy in general, and then show how they impact on current proposals for methodologies of agent-oriented analysis and design. Finally, we exploit the hierarchy to provide an overall organised view over declarative approaches to MAS, by using as a reference those presented in the other contributions in this book.

On the one hand, a hierarchical view allows the many different approaches to be distinguished, classified and possibly compared. On the other hand, it makes it possible to reveal the richness and diversity of declarative models and technologies for MAS, as well as to show the multiplicity of ways in which they impact on MAS modelling and engineering.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
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

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Kauffman, S.A.: Investigations. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Calmet, J., Daemi, A., Endsuleit, R., Mie, T.: A liberal approach to openess in societies of agents. In: [43]

    Google Scholar 

  3. Tolksdorf, R., Menezes, R.: Using Swarm intelligence in Linda systems. In: [43]

    Google Scholar 

  4. Feltovich, P.J., Bradshaw, J.M., Jeffers, R., Suri, N., Uszok, A.: Social order and adaptability in animal and human cultures as analogues for agent communities: Toward a policy-based approach. In: [43]

    Google Scholar 

  5. McBurney, P., Parsons, S.: Engineering democracy in open agent systems. In: [43]

    Google Scholar 

  6. Wegner, P.: Why interaction is more powerful than computing. Communications of the ACM 40, 80–91 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Grene, M.J.: Hierarchies in biology. American Scientist 75, 504–510 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Eldredge, N.: Unfinished Synthesis: Biological Hierarchies and Modern Evolutionary Thought. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Dawkins, R.: The Selfish Gene. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Sterelny, K.: Dawkins vs. Gould. Survival of the Fittest. Revolutions in Science. Icon Books Ltd., Cambridge (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Gould, S.J.: The Structure of Evolutionary Theory. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Omicini, A., Ossowski, S.: Objective versus subjective coordination in the engineering of agent systems. In: Klusch, M., Bergamaschi, S., Edwards, P., Petta, P. (eds.) Intelligent Information Agents. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2586, pp. 179–202. Springer, Heidelberg (2003)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  13. Noriega, P., Sierra, C.: Electronic institutions: Future trends and challenges. In: Klusch, M., Ossowski, S., Shehory, O. (eds.) CIA 2002. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2446, p. 14. Springer, Heidelberg (2002)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  14. Bresciani, P., Perini, A., Giorgini, P., Giunchiglia, F., Mylopoulos, J.: A knowledge level software engineering methodology for agent oriented programming. In: 5th International Conference on Autonomous Agents (Agents 2001), pp. 648–655. ACM Press, Montreal (2001)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  15. Zambonelli, F., Jennings, N.R., Wooldridge, M.J.: Developing multiagent systems: The Gaia methodology. ACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodology 12, 417–470 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Karnik, N.M., Tripathi, A.R.: Design issues in mobile-agent programming systems. IEEE Concurrency 6, 52–61 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Mataric, M.J.: Situated robotics. Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Kinny, D., Georgeff, M., Rao, A.: A methodology and modelling technique for systems of BDI agents. In: Perram, J., Van de Velde, W. (eds.) MAAMAW 1996. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 1038, pp. 56–71. Springer, Heidelberg (1996)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  19. Mataric, M.J.: Integration of representation into goal-driven behaviour-based robots. IEEE Transactions on Robotics and Automation 8, 59–69 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Wood, M.F., DeLoach, S.A., Sparkman, C.H.: Multiagent system engineering. International Journal of Software Engineering and Knowledge Engineering 11, 231–258 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Cabri, G., Leonardi, L., Zambonelli, F.: Engineering mobile agent applications via context-dependent coordination. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering 28, 1034–1051 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Padgham, L., Winikoff, M.: Prometheus: A methodology for developing intelligent agents. In: 1st International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems (AAMAS 2002), ACM Press, Bologna (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Wooldridge, M.J., Jennings, N.R., Kinny, D.: The Gaia methodology for agentoriented analysis and design. Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems 3, 285–312 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Ciancarini, P., Omicini, A., Zambonelli, F.: Multiagent system engineering: The coordination viewpoint. In: Jennings, N.R., Lespérance, Y. (eds.) ATAL 1999. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 1757, pp. 250–259. Springer, Heidelberg (2000)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  25. Omicini, A., Zambonelli, F.: Coordination for Internet application development. Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems 2, 251–269 (1999); Special Issue: Coordination Mechanisms for Web Agents

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Zambonelli, F., Jennings, N.R., Omicini, A., Wooldridge, M.J.: Agent-oriented software engineering for Internet applications. In: Omicini, A., Zambonelli, F., Klusch, M., Tolksdorf, R. (eds.) Coordination of Internet Agents: Models, Technologies, and Applications, pp. 326–346. Springer, Heidelberg (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Omicini, A., Denti, E.: From tuple spaces to tuple centres. Science of Computer Programming 41, 277–294 (2001)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  28. Bellifemine, F., Poggi, A., Rimassa, G.: JADE – a FIPA-compliant agent framework. In: 4th International Conference and Exhibition on The Practical Application of Intelligent Agents and Multi-Agent Technology (PAAM 1999), pp. 97–108 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Son, T.C., Pontelli, E., Ranjan, D., Milligan, B., Gupta, G.: An agent-based domain specific framework for rapid prototyping of applications in evolutionary biology. In: Leite, J., Omicini, A., Sterling, L., Torroni, P. (eds.) DALT 2003. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2990, pp. 76–96. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  30. Clark, K.L., McCabe, F.G.: Go! for multi-threaded deliberative agents. In: Leite, J., Omicini, A., Sterling, L., Torroni, P. (eds.) DALT 2003. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2990, pp. 54–75. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  31. Flax, L.: A proposal for reasoning in agents: Restricted entailment. In: Leite, J., Omicini, A., Sterling, L., Torroni, P. (eds.) DALT 2003. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2990, pp. 173–190. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  32. van der Hoek, W., Lomuscio, A.: A logic for ignorance. In: Leite, J., Omicini, A., Sterling, L., Torroni, P. (eds.) DALT 2003. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2990, pp. 97–108. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  33. Moreira, Á.F., Vieira, R., Bordini, R.H.: Extending the operational semantics of a BDI agent-oriented programming language for introducing speech-act based communication. In: Leite, J., Omicini, A., Sterling, L., Torroni, P. (eds.) DALT 2003. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2990, pp. 135–154. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  34. Bergenti, F., Rimassa, G., Viroli, M.: Operational semantics for agents by iterated refinement. In: Leite, J., Omicini, A., Sterling, L., Torroni, P. (eds.) DALT 2003. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2990, pp. 37–53. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  35. Tran, B.V., Harland, J., Hamilton, M.: A combined logic of expectations and observation (a generalisation of BDI logics). In: Leite, J., Omicini, A., Sterling, L., Torroni, P. (eds.) DALT 2003. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2990, pp. 155–172. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  36. Ancona, D., Mascardi, V.: Coo-BDI: Extending the BDI model with cooperativity. In: Leite, J., Omicini, A., Sterling, L., Torroni, P. (eds.) DALT 2003. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2990, pp. 109–134. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  37. Küngas, P., Matskin, M.: Linear logic, partial deduction and cooperative problem solving. In: Leite, J., Omicini, A., Sterling, L., Torroni, P. (eds.) DALT 2003. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2990, pp. 263–279. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  38. Alberti, M., Gavanelli, M., Lamma, E., Mello, P., Torroni, P.: Modeling interaction using Social Integrity Constraints: A resource sharing case study. In: Leite, J., Omicini, A., Sterling, L., Torroni, P. (eds.) DALT 2003. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2990, pp. 243–262. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  39. Colombetti, M., Fornara, N., Verdicchio, M.: A social approach to communication in multiagent systems. In: Leite, J., Omicini, A., Sterling, L., Torroni, P. (eds.) DALT 2003. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2990, pp. 191–220. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  40. Vasconcelos, W.W.: Logic-based electronic institutions. In: Leite, J., Omicini, A., Sterling, L., Torroni, P. (eds.) DALT 2003. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2990, pp. 221–242. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  41. Castaldi, M., Costantini, S., Gentile, S., Tocchio, A.: A logic-based infrastructure for reconfiguring applications. In: Leite, J., Omicini, A., Sterling, L., Torroni, P. (eds.) DALT 2003. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2990, pp. 17–36. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  42. Kuhn, T.S.: The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  43. Omicini, A., Petta, P., Pitt, J. (eds.): ESAW 2003. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 3071. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. DEIS, Università degli Studi di Bologna a Cesena, via Venezia 52, 47023, Cesena, Italy

    Andrea Omicini

  2. DISMI, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, via Allegri 13, 42100, Reggio Emilia, Italy

    Franco Zambonelli

Authors
  1. Andrea Omicini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Franco Zambonelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Informática, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal

    João Leite

  2. Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna a Cesena, via Venezia 52, 47023, Cesena, Italy

    Andrea Omicini

  3. Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, The University of Melbourne, 3010, Vic, Australia

    Leon Sterling

  4. DEIS, University of Bologna, V.le Risorgimento 2, 40136, Bologna, Italy

    Paolo Torroni

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2004 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Omicini, A., Zambonelli, F. (2004). MAS as Complex Systems: A View on the Role of Declarative Approaches. In: Leite, J., Omicini, A., Sterling, L., Torroni, P. (eds) Declarative Agent Languages and Technologies. DALT 2003. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 2990. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-25932-9_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-25932-9_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-22124-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-25932-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation