Cooperative Distributed Planning through Argumentation

Abstract

This paper addresses the problem of solving a cooperative distributed planning (CDP) task through an argumentation-based model. A CDP task involves building a central plan amongst a set of agents who will contribute differently to the joint task based on their abilities and knowledge. In our approach, planning agents accomplish the CDP task resolution through an argumentation-based model that allows them to exchange partial solutions, express opinions on the adequacy of the agents’ solutions and adapt their own proposals for the benefit of the overall task. Hence, the construction of the joint plan is coordinated via a deliberation dialogue to decide what course of action should be adopted at each stage of the planning process. In this paper, we highlight the role of argumentation for planning tasks that require a coordinated behaviour for their resolution.