Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Developing Goal-Oriented Normative Agents:
The NBDI Architecture
Baldoino F. dos Santos Neto
1
, Viviane Torres da Silva
2
, and Carlos J.P. de Lucena
1
,
1
Computer Science Department, PUC-Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2
Computer Science Department, Fluminense Federal University (UFF)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
{
bneto,lucena
}
@inf.puc-rio.br
,
viviane.silva@ic.uff.br
Abstract.
In open multi-agent systems norms are mechanisms used to restrict
the behaviour of agents by defining what they are obligated, permitted or prohib-
ited to do and by stating stimulus to their fulfillment such as rewards and dis-
couraging their violation by pointing out punishments. In this paper we propose
the NBDI architecture to develop goal-oriented normative agents whose priority
is the accomplishment of their own desires while evaluate the pros and cons as-
sociated with the fulfillment or violation of the norms. The BDI architecture is
extended by including norms related functions to check the incoming perceptions
(including norms), select the norms they intend to fulfill based on the benefits
they provide to the achievement of the agent's desires and intentions, and de-
cide to cope or not with the norms while dropping, retaining or adopting new
intentions. The applicability of our approach is demonstrated through an non-
combatant evacuation scenario implemented by using the Normative Jason plat-
form.
Keywords:
Norms and BDI agents.
1
Introduction
Normative regulation is a mechanism that aims to cope with the heterogeneity, auton-
omy and diversity of interests among the different members of an open multi-agent
system establishing a set of norms that ensures a desirable social order [5].
Such norms regulate the behaviour of the agents by indicating that they are obligated
to accomplish something in the world (obligations) [6], permitted to act in a particular
way (permissions) and prohibited from acting in a particular way (prohibitions) [6].
Moreover, norms may define rewards to their fulfillment and may state punishments in
order to discourage their violation[6].
In this paper we consider that agents are goal-oriented entities that have the main pur-
pose of achieving their desires while trying to fulfill the system norms. In this context,
the paper presents an abstract architecture to build agents able to deal with the norms
The present work has been partially funded by the Spanish project “Agreement Technolo-
gies” (CONSOLIDER CSD2007-0022,INGENIO 2010) and by the Brazilian research coun-
cils CNPq under grant 303531/2009-6 and FAPERJ under grant E-26/110.959/2009.
