Developing JACK agents using the JACK Development Environment

Michael Winikoff
Computer Science, RMIT

Friday, 27th April 2001
0930 - 1100

RMIT University Function Room (near Kaleide Theatre)
Building 8, level 2, RMIT
Swanston Street, Melbourne.

Abstract:

JACK Intelligent AgentsTM is an environment for building, running and integrating commercial-grade multi-agent systems using a component-based approach.  The JACK Agent Language is a programming language that extends Java with agent-oriented concepts from the BDI model.

Developing an agent system in JACK has been traditionally done using a text editor.  A JACK program is spread across a number of files and contains repeated definitions. This can make the construction of JACK programs tedious and error-prone.

This presentation will demonstrate the use of the new (version 3.1) Jack Development Environment (JDE) to develop agent systems. Although plan bodies are still written textually, most of the task of specifying events, specifying beliefs, and linking these to agents is done by clicking, pointing and dragging.

Biosketch:

Dr. Michael Winikoff received his PhD from the University of Melbourne in 1997.  Since then he has worked at Melbourne University, the Institute for Software Research (in West Virginia), Pixeltech Design, and RMIT.  His research interests include agent oriented systems, programming languages, formal methods, and logic and its applications.

JACK Intelligent Agents:

Agent Oriented Software Pty. Ltd., produces JACK Intelligent AgentsTM, an advanced product for developing and running intelligent software agents.

Agent Oriented Software was formed in April 1997 and the company's product development centre is located in Carlton, Australia. This is complemented by the Adelaide Application Centre, which opened in 2000, co-located with the Defence Department's DSTO Laboratory at Salisbury. The Adelaide Application Centre focuses on software agent applications. The company maintains an office in Sydney.

Agent Oriented Software UK commenced operations in 2000, and is based in Cambridge, UK. The Cambridge Laboratory will focus on software agent applications, particularly in manufacturing and telecommunications.

For more information see http://www.agent-software.com