Mobile Intelligence

15.5 BDI AND AGENTSPEAK(L)

One of the most successful theoretical models of rational agents is the BDI model [18, 19]. The concept of BDI agents has also proven useful in practical applications, for example, in the defense industry [20, 21].

The BDI framework was developed in the 1980s by Georgeff and Lansky [22]. It has since been implemented in several software platforms, current examples being Jack Intelligent Agents [21] and Jam Agents [23]. The wide appreciation of the BDI model is witnessed by the development of a BDI logic [24], the definition of BDI-based languages (AgentTalk [25], 3APL [26], AgentSpeak(L) [27]) and the creation of BDI-based development tools such as dMARS [29].

The BDI model provides a convenient terminology and structure for describing intelligent agents. Unlike many other agent systems, the BDI framework has had many practical applications, by which the theory and terminology have been made clearer and more generic than for other system.

BDI agents have been applied and are suited to model highly dynamic and unpredictable situations. By only partially expanding alternative plans of actions, they can remain responsive to changes in system state. They provide ways to recover from failed actions and to customize reasoning for specific situations. They describe also how to handle conflicting actions and goals and to modify already executing actions, all of which are needed in dynamic simulations.

Therefore, the BDI framework provides means to specify complex ...