Summary

Jason is an Open Source interpreter for an extended version of AgentSpeak a logic-based agent-oriented programming language written in Java. It enables users to build complex multi-agent systems that are capable of operating in environments previously considered too unpredictable for computers to handle. Jason is easily customisable and is suitable for the implementation of reactive planning systems according to the Belief-Desire-Intention (BDI) architecture.Programming Multi-Agent Systems in AgentSpeak using Jason provides a brief introduction to multi-agent systems and the BDI agent architecture on which AgentSpeak is based. The authors explain Jason's AgentSpeak variant and provide a comprehensive, practical guide to using Jason to program multi-agent systems. Some of the examples include diagrams generated using an agent-oriented software engineering methodology particularly suited for implementation using BDI-based programming languages. The authors also give guidance on good programming style with AgentSpeak.Programming Multi-Agent Systems in AgentSpeak using Jason Describes and explains in detail the AgentSpeak extension interpreted by Jason and shows how to create multi-agent systems using the Jason platform. Reinforces learning with examples, problems, and illustrations. Includes two case studies which demonstrate the use of Jason in practice. Features an accompanying website that provides further learning resources including sample code, exercises, and slidesThis essential guide to AgentSpeak and Jason will be invaluable to senior undergraduate and postgraduate students studying multi-agent systems. The book will also be of interest to software engineers, designers, developers, and programmers interested in multi-agent systems.

Author Biography

Rafael H. Bordini, University of Durham, UK

Jomi Fred Hubner, University of Blumenau, Brazil

Michael Wooldridge,University of Liverpool, UK

Preface	p. xi
Acknowledgements	p. xvii
Introduction	p. 1
Autonomous Agents	p. 1
Characteristics of Agents	p. 2
Multi-Agent Systems	p. 5
Hello World!	p. 7
The BDI Agent Model	p. 15
Agent-Oriented Programming	p. 15
Practical Reasoning	p. 17
A Computational Model of BDI Practical Reasoning	p. 20
The Procedural Reasoning System	p. 22
Agent Communication	p. 25
The Jason Agent Programming Language	p. 31
Beliefs	p. 32
Goals	p. 40
Plans	p. 41
Example: A Complete Agent Program	p. 58
Exercises	p. 65
Jason Interpreter	p. 67
The Reasoning Cycle	p. 67
Plan Failure	p. 86
Interpreter Configuration and Execution Modes	p. 93
Pre-Defined Plan Annotations	p. 97
Exercises	p. 98
Environments	p. 101
Support for Defining Simulated Environments	p. 102
Example: Running a System of Multiple Situated Agents	p. 109
Exercises	p. 114
Communication and Interaction	p. 117
Available Performatives	p. 118
Informal Semantics of Receiving Messages	p. 119
Example: Contract Net Protocol	p. 130
Exercises	p. 135
User-Defined Components	p. 139
Defining New Internal Actions	p. 140
Customising the Agent Class	p. 144
Customising the Overall Architecture	p. 151
Customising the Belief Base	p. 155
Pre-Processing Directives	p. 160
Exercises	p. 162
Advanced Goal-Based Programming	p. 165
BDI Programming	p. 166
Declarative (Achievement) Goal Patterns	p. 169
Commitment Strategy Patterns	p. 172
Other Useful Patterns	p. 175
Pre-Processing Directives for Plan Patterns	p. 176
Case Studies	p. 179
Case Study I: Gold Miners	p. 180
Case Study II: Electronic Bookstore	p. 194
Formal Semantics	p. 201
Semantic Rules	p. 207
Semantics of Message Exchange in a Multi-Agent System	p. 212
Semantic Rules for Receiving Messages	p. 215
Semantics of the BDI Modalities for AgentSpeak	p. 221
Conclusions	p. 225
Jason and Agent-Oriented Programming	p. 225
Ongoing Work and Related Research	p. 227
General Advice on Programming Style and Practice	p. 230
Reference Guide	p. 235
EBNF for the Agent Language	p. 235
EBNF for the Multi-Agent Systems Language	p. 236
Standard Internal Actions	p. 237
Pre-Defined Annotations	p. 255
Pre-processing Directives	p. 256
Interpreter Configuration	p. 258
References	p. 261
Index	p. 269
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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