Normative positions in multi-agent systems

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Hjelmblom, Magnus^{a; b}

Affiliations: [a] Faculty of Engineering and Sustainable Development, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden. E-mail: mbm@hig.se | [b] Department of Computer and Systems Sciences, University of Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract: The Kanger-Lindahl theory of normative positions has great potential of serving as a logical foundation for normative systems for MAS, and its generality allows for great freedom when interpreting the theory. As a first step towards a typology of interpretations of the theory, the application of normative positions is studied in the context of a class of transition systems in which transitions are deterministic and associated with a single agent performing an act. By an interpretation of different types of normative positions in terms of permitting or prohibiting different state transition types in this context, lexicons for two different systems of types of normative positions are suggested and discussed. It is demonstrated that both interpretations are useful foundations for normative systems semantics in a MAS context.

Keywords: Normative MAS, norm-regulated, norm-governed, normative positions, transition system

DOI: 10.3233/WEB-160337

Journal: Web Intelligence, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 153-171, 2016