Machine Learning and Multiagent Systems as Interrelated Technologies -- Ant Colony Optimization for the Multi-criteria Vehicle Navigation Problem -- Solving Instances of the Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem Using Multi-Agent Non-Distributed and Distributed Environment -- Structure vs. Efficiency of the Cross-Entropy Based Population Learning Algorithm for Discrete-Continuous Scheduling with Continuous Resource Discretisation -- Triple-Action Agents Solving the MRCPSP/max Problem -- Team of A-Teams - a Study of the Cooperation Between Program Agents Solving Difficult Optimization Problems -- Distributed Bregman-Distance Algorithms for Min-Max Optimization -- A Probability Collectives Approach for Multi-Agent Distributed and Cooperative Optimization with Tolerance for Agent Failure.

This volume presents a collection of original research works by leading specialists focusing on novel and promising approaches in which the multi-agent system paradigm is used to support, enhance or replace traditional approaches to solving difficult optimization problems. The editors have invited several well-known specialists to present their solutions, tools, and models falling under the common denominator of the agent-based optimization. The book consists of eight chapters covering examples of application of the multi-agent paradigm and respective customized tools to solve  difficult optimization problems arising in different areas such as machine learning, scheduling, transportation and, more generally, distributed and cooperative problem solving.