A Framework for Programming Norm-Aware Multi-agent Systems

Abstract

Abstract. We propose a programming framework for the implementation of norm-aware multi-agent systems. The framework integrates the N-2APL normaware agent programming language with the 2OPL organisation programming language. Integration of N-2APL and 2OPL is achieved using a tuple space which represents both the (brute) state of the multi-agent environment and the detached norms and sanctions comprising its normative state. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first implementation of an integrated framework for norm-aware MAS in which autonomous agents deliberate about whether to conform to the norms imposed by a normative organisation. The use of a tuple space makes it straightforward to integrate other system components. To illustrate the flexibility of our framework, we briefly describe its application in a novel normative application, a mixed reality game called GeoSense. We show how GeoSense game rules can be expressed as conditional norms with deadlines and sanctions, and how agents can deliberate about their individual goals and the norms imposed by the game.

Embedding Values in Artificial Intelligence (AI) Systems

“…Conversely, social institutions may be translated into computer code that regulates the behavior of and interactions between AAs (Leenes and Lucivero 2014). This is particularly done in the (research) field of normative multi-agent systems, in which it has become common to design artificial multi-agent systems that are composed of not only AAs but also (encoded) norms (see, e.g., Hollander and Wu 2011;Singh 2014;Dybalova et al 2014;Boissier 2006;Mahmoud et al 2014). To distinguish such norms from social norms (and institutions), I call them technical norms, although they are often not technical at the semantic level.…”

N-Jason: Run-Time Norm Compliance in AgentSpeak(L)

“…The belief base (B) is updated by P in the belief update process (belief-updatefunction (buf) more precisely) (see lines [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. This belief update involves the creation of events in response to each new percept.…”

“…The (potential) sanctions may affect agent decision making, but violations are possible in this approach. Given N-2APL, Dybalova et al [9] demonstrate norm-compliant agents in location-based gaming environments in conjunction with the organisational framework, 2OPL [6]. There, once organisations have broadcast state-based norms to all participants, the individual agents achieve a state of the environment described in the norms using a design-based approach.…”

“…In the literature on BDI agents, norm awareness, which is a precursor to norm compliance, is exhibited broadly by two approaches: (i) at the perception level, by taking new unknown norms into account as part of the generic execution mechanism [13,14] and (ii) at the deliberation level, by attempts to resolve the conflict between normative factors and agents' mental attitudes [1,9]. We propose to coalesce these approaches into one 'sense-think-act' reasoning cycle informed by the concept of awareness, which Charlton [4] describes as the capacity "to select and integrate relevant inputs from a complex environment to enable humans or animals to choose between a large repertoire of behavioural responses".…”

Applying norms and preferences for designing flexible game rules

“…A norm is an application of a rule to one or more agents for which a sanction is incurred by an entity who breaks it (Alechina et al, 2012;Dybalova et al, 2014). These rules can take the form of obligations or prohibitions.…”