Multi-agent systems have emerged as one of the most important areas
of research and development in information technology in the 1990s.
A multiagent system is one composed of multiple interacting software
components known as agents, which are typically capable of cooperating
to solve problems that are beyond the abilities of any individual
member. Multi-agent systems are important primarily because they
have been found to have very wide applicability, in areas as diverse
as industrial process control and electronic commerce. This course
will begin by introducing the student to the notion of an agent,
and will lead them to an understanding of what an agent is, how
they can be constructed, and how agents can be made to cooperate
effectively with one-another to solve problems.
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