Affiliations: Institute of Informatics, Warsaw University, Banacha
2, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland | Institute of Computer Science, Polish Academy of
Sciences, Ordona 21, 01-237 Warsaw, Poland | Department of Artificial Intelligence, University of
Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands
Abstract: In this paper the notion of collective intention in teams of
agents involved in cooperative problem solving (CPS) in multiagent
systems (MAS) is investigated. Starting from individual intentions,
goals}, and beliefs defining agents' local asocial motivational and
informational attitudes, we arrive at an understanding of collective intention
in cooperative teams. The presented definitions are rather strong, in
particular a collective intention implies that all members intend for all
others to share that intention. Thus a team is created on the basis of
collective intention, and exists as long as this attitude between team members
exists, after which the group may disintegrate. For this reason it is crucial
that collective intention lasts long enough. Collective intentions are
formalized in a multi-modal logical framework. Completeness of this logic with
respect to an appropriate class of Kripke models is proved. Two versions of
collective intentions are discussed in the context of different situations. It
is assumed that these definitions reflect solely vital aspects of motivational
attitudes, leaving room for case-specific extensions. This makes the framework
flexible and not overloaded. Together with individual and collective knowledge
and belief, collective intention constitutes a basis for preparing a plan,
reflected in the strongest attitude, i.e., in collective commitment, defined
and investigated in our other papers.
