A refinement-based approach to developing critical multi-agent systems

Multi-agent systems (MAS) are increasingly used in critical applications. To ensure dependability of MAS, we need powerful development techniques that would allow us to master complexity inherent to MAS and formally verify correctness and safety of collaborative agent activities. In this paper we present a rigorous approach to development and verification of critical MAS in Event-B. We demonstrate how to formally specify complex agent interactions and verify their correctness and safety. We argue that refinement approach facilitates structuring complex requirements and formal reasoning about system-level properties. We illustrate our approach by a case study: formal development of a hospital MAS.