The MaSE Methodology

Abstract

MaSE provides a detailed approach to the analysis and design of MAS. MaSE combines several established models into a comprehensive methodology and provides a set of transformation steps that shows how to derive new models from the existing models. Thus MaSE guides the developer in the analysis and design process. Future work on MaSE will focus on specializing it for use in adaptive multiagent and cooperative robotic systems based on an organizational theoretic approach. We are currently developing an organizational model that will provide the knowledge required for a team of software or hardware agents to automatically adapt to changes in their environment and to organize and reorganize to accomplish team goals. Much of the information needed in this organizational model - goals, roles, and agents - is already captured in MaSE. However, we will have to extend MaSE analysis to capture more detail on roles, including the capabilities required to play roles.