Ebook: Agent-Based Defeasible Control in Dynamic Environments

This volume, the 7th volume in the DRUMS Handbook series, is part of the aftermath of the successful ESPRIT project DRUMS (Defeasible Reasoning and Uncertainty Management Systems) which took place in two stages from 1989- 1996. In the second stage (1993-1996) a work package was introduced devoted to the topics Reasoning and Dynamics, covering both the topics of "Dynamics of Reasoning", where reasoning is viewed as a process, and "Reasoning about Dynamics", which must be understood as pertaining to how both designers of and agents within dynamic systems may reason about these systems. The present volume presents work done in this context extended with some work done by outstanding researchers outside the project on related issues. While the previous volume in this series had its focus on the dynamics of reasoning pro­ cesses, the present volume is more focused on "reasoning about dynamics', viz. how (human and artificial) agents reason about (systems in) dynamic environments in order to control them. In particular we consider modelling frameworks and generic agent models for modelling these dynamic systems and formal approaches to these systems such as logics for agents and formal means to reason about agent­ based and compositional systems, and action & change more in general. We take this opportunity to mention that we have very pleasant recollections of the project, with its lively workshops and other meetings, with the many sites and researchers involved, both within and outside our own work package.

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This last volume of the Handbook of Defeasible Reasoning and Uncertainty Management Systems is - together with Volume 6 - devoted to the topics Reasoning and Dynamics, covering both the topics of "Dynamics of Reasoning", where reasoning is viewed as a process, and "Reasoning about Dynamics", which must be understood as pertaining to how both designers of, and agents within dynamic systems may reason about these systems.
The present volume presents work done in this context and is more focused on "reasoning about dynamics", viz. how (human and artificial) agents reason about (systems in) dynamic environments in order to control them. In particular modelling frameworks and generic agent models for modelling these dynamic systems and formal approaches to these systems such as logics for agents and formal means to reason about agent-based and compositional systems, and action & change more in general are considered.

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This last volume of the Handbook of Defeasible Reasoning and Uncertainty Management Systems is - together with Volume 6 - devoted to the topics Reasoning and Dynamics, covering both the topics of "Dynamics of Reasoning", where reasoning is viewed as a process, and "Reasoning about Dynamics", which must be understood as pertaining to how both designers of, and agents within dynamic systems may reason about these systems.
The present volume presents work done in this context and is more focused on "reasoning about dynamics", viz. how (human and artificial) agents reason about (systems in) dynamic environments in order to control them. In particular modelling frameworks and generic agent models for modelling these dynamic systems and formal approaches to these systems such as logics for agents and formal means to reason about agent-based and compositional systems, and action & change more in general are considered.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-ix
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Introduction....Pages 3-8
Basic Concepts....Pages 9-16
Front Matter....Pages 17-17
Compositional Design of Multi-Agent Systems: Modelling Dynamics and Control....Pages 19-63
Control Techniques for Complex Reasoning: The Case of Milord II ....Pages 65-97
Coordinating Heterogeneous Components Using Executable Temporal Logic....Pages 99-112
Compositional Design and Reuse of a Generic Agent Model....Pages 113-163
Front Matter....Pages 165-165
Semantic Formalisation of Emerging Dynamics of Compositional Agent Systems....Pages 167-196
Descriptive Dynamic Logic and Its Application to Reflective Architectures....Pages 197-220
Compositional Verification of Multi-Agent Systems in Temporal Multi-Epistemic Logic....Pages 221-250
Front Matter....Pages 251-251
Formalising Abilities and Opportunities of Agents....Pages 253-307
Seeing is Believing and So are Hearing and Jumping....Pages 309-339
Motivational Attitudes in the Karo Framework....Pages 341-356
Modelling Social Agents: Towards Deliberate Communication....Pages 357-380
Front Matter....Pages 381-381
Reasoning about Action and Change Using Dijkstra’s Semantics for Programming Languages....Pages 383-398
Reasoning about Action and Change: Actions with Abnormal Effects....Pages 399-409
Preferential Action Semantics....Pages 411-426
Reuse and Abstraction in Verification: Agents Acting in Dynamic Environments....Pages 427-454
Compositional Verification of a Multi-Agent System for One-to-Many Negotiation....Pages 455-475
Back Matter....Pages 477-479

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This last volume of the Handbook of Defeasible Reasoning and Uncertainty Management Systems is - together with Volume 6 - devoted to the topics Reasoning and Dynamics, covering both the topics of "Dynamics of Reasoning", where reasoning is viewed as a process, and "Reasoning about Dynamics", which must be understood as pertaining to how both designers of, and agents within dynamic systems may reason about these systems.
The present volume presents work done in this context and is more focused on "reasoning about dynamics", viz. how (human and artificial) agents reason about (systems in) dynamic environments in order to control them. In particular modelling frameworks and generic agent models for modelling these dynamic systems and formal approaches to these systems such as logics for agents and formal means to reason about agent-based and compositional systems, and action & change more in general are considered.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-ix
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Introduction....Pages 3-8
Basic Concepts....Pages 9-16
Front Matter....Pages 17-17
Compositional Design of Multi-Agent Systems: Modelling Dynamics and Control....Pages 19-63
Control Techniques for Complex Reasoning: The Case of Milord II ....Pages 65-97
Coordinating Heterogeneous Components Using Executable Temporal Logic....Pages 99-112
Compositional Design and Reuse of a Generic Agent Model....Pages 113-163
Front Matter....Pages 165-165
Semantic Formalisation of Emerging Dynamics of Compositional Agent Systems....Pages 167-196
Descriptive Dynamic Logic and Its Application to Reflective Architectures....Pages 197-220
Compositional Verification of Multi-Agent Systems in Temporal Multi-Epistemic Logic....Pages 221-250
Front Matter....Pages 251-251
Formalising Abilities and Opportunities of Agents....Pages 253-307
Seeing is Believing and So are Hearing and Jumping....Pages 309-339
Motivational Attitudes in the Karo Framework....Pages 341-356
Modelling Social Agents: Towards Deliberate Communication....Pages 357-380
Front Matter....Pages 381-381
Reasoning about Action and Change Using Dijkstra’s Semantics for Programming Languages....Pages 383-398
Reasoning about Action and Change: Actions with Abnormal Effects....Pages 399-409
Preferential Action Semantics....Pages 411-426
Reuse and Abstraction in Verification: Agents Acting in Dynamic Environments....Pages 427-454
Compositional Verification of a Multi-Agent System for One-to-Many Negotiation....Pages 455-475
Back Matter....Pages 477-479
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