TY - JOUR T1 - A logic-based model of intention formation and action for multi-agent subcontracting JF - Artificial Intelligence Y1 - 2005 A1 - Grant,John A1 - Kraus,Sarit A1 - Perlis, Don KW - Cooperative agents KW - intentions KW - Minimal model semantics KW - Subcontracting KW - Syntactic logic AB - We present a formalism for representing the formation of intentions by agents engaged in cooperative activity. We use a syntactic approach presenting a formal logical calculus that can be regarded as a meta-logic that describes the reasoning and activities of the agents. Our central focus is on the evolving intentions of agents over time, and the conditions under which an agent can adopt and maintain an intention. In particular, the reasoning time and the time taken to subcontract are modeled explicitly in the logic. We axiomatize the concept of agent interactions in the meta-language, show that the meta-theory is consistent and describe the unique intended model of the meta-theory. In this context we deal both with subcontracting between agents and the presence of multiple recipes, that is, multiple ways of accomplishing tasks. We show that under various initial conditions and known facts about agent beliefs and abilities, the meta-theory representation yields good results. VL - 163 SN - 0004-3702 UR - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0004370204001924 CP - 2 M3 - 16/j.artint.2004.11.003 ER -