Programming Multi-Agent Systems in AgentSpeak using Jason

1 Introduction.

1.1 Autonomous Agents.

1.2 Characteristics of Agents.

1.3 Multi-Agent Systems.

1.4 Hello World!

2 The BDI Agent Model.

2.1 Agent-Oriented Programming.

2.2 Practical Reasoning.

2.3 A Computational Model of BDI Practical Reasoning.

2.4 The Procedural Reasoning System.

2.5 Agent Communication.

3 The Jason Agent Programming Language.

3.1 Beliefs.

3.2 Goals.

3.3 Plans.

3.4 Example: A Complete Agent Program.

3.5 Exercises.

4 Jason Interpreter.

4.1 The Reasoning Cycle.

4.2 Plan Failure.

4.3 Interpreter Configuration and Execution Modes.

4.4 Pre-Defined Plan Annotations.

4.5 Exercises.

5 Environments.

5.1 Support for Defining Simulated Environments.

5.2 Example: Running a System of Multiple Situated Agents.

5.3 Exercises.

6 Communication and Interaction.

6.1 Available Performatives.

6.2 Informal Semantics of Receiving Messages.

6.3 Example: Contract Net Protocol.

6.4 Exercises.

7 User-Defined Components.

7.1 Defining New Internal Actions.

7.2 Customising the Agent Class.

7.3 Customising the Overall Architecture.

7.4 Customising the Belief Base.

7.5 Pre-Processing Directives.

7.6 Exercises.

8 Advanced Goal-Based Programming.

8.1 BDI Programming.

8.2 Declarative (Achievement) Goal Patterns.

8.3 Commitment Strategy Patterns.

8.4 Other Useful Patterns.

8.5 Pre-Processing Directives for Plan Patterns.

9 Case Studies.

9.1 Case Study I: Gold Miners.

9.2 Case Study II: Electronic Bookstore.

10 Formal Semantics.

10.1 Semantic Rules.

10.2 Semantics of Message Exchange in a Multi-Agent System. 

10.3 Semantic Rules for Receiving Messages.

10.4 Semantics of the BDI Modalities for AgentSpeak.

11 Conclusions.

11.1 Jason and Agent-Oriented Programming.

11.2 Ongoing Work and Related Research.

11.3 General Advice on Programming Style and Practice.

A Reference Guide.

A.1 EBNF for the Agent Language.

A.2 EBNF for the Multi-Agent Systems Language.

A.3 Standard Internal Actions.

A.4 Pre-Defined Annotations.

A.5 Pre-Processing Directives.

A.6 Interpreter Configuration.

Bibliography.