Sensible Agents: Demonstration of Dynamic Configuration of Agent Organizations for Responsive Planning Operations

Decisions rarely occur in isolation, and decision makers must often respond to dynamic and unexpected events. A decision-maker must consider not only its own possible actions but also the possible behaviors and the resources of others who may either assist with planning and execution, accidentally interfere, or maliciously interfere. Dynamic Adaptive Autonomy (DAA) is the fundamental technology of Sensible Agents that permits a decision-making agent (responsible for planning and execution) to react, adjust, and respond to unpredictable environments. Sensible Agents can (1) assess current and potential interaction styles for planning, and (2) optimize planning frameworks by adjusting these styles. To address these issues, dynamic configuration of decision-making agent organizations is a must. Some specific research that has contributed to flexible, adaptive multi-agent coordination includes partial global planning (Durfee and Lesser, 1987), organizational self-design (Ishida et al., 1992), TEAMS flexible teamwork (Tambe, 1997), RETSINA matchmaking (Sycara and Pannu, 1998), and organizational fluidity (Glance and Huberman, 1993). However, these techniques do not specifically adapt agent planning-interaction styles.