Operational Semantics for BDI Modules in Multi-agent Programming

This paper proposes an operational semantics for BDI modules that can be incorporated in multi-agent programming languages. The introduced concept of modules facilitates the implementation of agents, agent roles, and agent profiles. Moreover, the introduced concept of modules enables common programming techniques such as encapsulation and information hiding for BDI-based multi-agent programs. This vision is applied to a BDI-based multi-agent programming language to which specific programming constructs are added to allow the implementation of modules. The syntax and operational semantics of this programming language are provided and some properties of the module related programming constructs are discussed. An example is presented to illustrate how modules can be used to implement BDI-based multi-agent systems.

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2009
• Where: CLIMA
• Authors: Mehdi Dastani, Bas R. Steunebrink
• Keywords: CLIMA 2009, Intelligent Agents, Multi-agent Programming Language, Operational Semantics, Programming Language