Flexible problem-solving roles for autonomous agents

Abstract Agent-based technologies can be applied to many aspects of manufacturing. The need for responsive, flexible agents is pervasive in manufacturing environments due to the complex, dynamic nature of manufacturing problems. One critical aspect of agent flexibility is the ability to adapt problem-solving roles to various situations during system operation. This issue is addressed by research on Sensible Agents, capable of Dynamic Adaptive Autonomy. In Sensible Agent-based systems, levels of autonomy constitute descriptions of agent problem-solving roles. These roles are defined along a spectrum ranging from command-driven, to consensus, to locally autonomous/master. Dynamic Adaptive Autonomy allows Sensible Agents to change autonomy levels during system operation to meet the needs of a particular problem-solving situation. The foundation of Dynamic Adaptive Autonomy is the definition of the various problem-solving roles that agents may fill. This paper defines four autonomy constructs (planning-responsibility, authority-over, commitment, and independence) and presents a formal representation of agent autonomy levels based on these constructs.