Task Allocation -- Distributed Constraint Solving -- Multi-Robot Systems -- Cooperation -- Plan Execution -- Behaviour Modelling.

As research progresses, it enables multi-robot systems to be used in more and more complex and dynamic scenarios. Hence, the question arises how different modelling and reasoning paradigms can be utilised to describe the intended behaviour of a team and execute it in a robust and adaptive manner. Hendrik Skubch presents a solution, ALICA (A Language for Interactive Cooperative Agents) which combines modelling techniques drawn from different paradigms in an integrative fashion. Hierarchies of finite state machines are used to structure the behaviour of the team such that temporal and causal relationships can be expressed. Utility functions weigh different options against each other and assign agents to different tasks. Finally, non-linear constraint satisfaction and optimisation problems are integrated, allowing for complex cooperative behaviour to be specified in a concise, theoretically well-founded manner.   Contents ·         Task Allocation ·         Distributed Constraint Solving ·         Multi-Robot Systems ·         Cooperation ·         Plan Execution ·         Behaviour Modelling     Target Groups Researchers and students in the fields of computer science, robotics, and artificial intelligence; artificial intelligence programmer.   Author Dr. Hendrik Skubch completed his doctoral degree under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Kurt Geihs at the Distributed Systems Group at the University of Kassel.