Modeling and Analyzing Multi-Agent Behaviors Using Predicate/Transition Nets

S c h o o l o f In fo rm a tio n S c ie n c e s a n d T e c h n o lo g y 0 0 4 D T h o m a s B u ild in g T h e P e n n s y lv a n ia S ta te U n iv e rs ity U n iv e rs ity P a rk , P A 1 6 8 0 2 , U S A jy e n @ is t.p s u .e d u Ab s tr a c t H o w a g e n ts a c c o m p lis h a g o a l ta s k in a m u lti-a g e n t s y s te m is u s u a lly s p e c ifie d b y m u lti-a g e n t p la n s b u ilt fro m b a s ic a c tio n s (e .g. o p e ra to rs) o f w h ic h th e a g e n ts a re c a p a b le. T h e p la n s p e c ific a tio n p ro v id e s th e a g e n ts w ith a s h a re d m e n ta l m o d e l fo r h o w th e y a re s u p p o s e d to c o lla b o ra te w ith e a c h o th e r to a c h ie v e th e c o m m o n g o a l. Ma k in g s u re th a t th e p la n s a re re lia b le a n d fit fo r th e p u rp o s e fo r w h ic h th e y a re d e s ig n e d is a c ritic a l p ro b le m w ith th is a p p ro a c h. T o a d d re s s th is …