An Introduction to MultiAgent Systems [Paperback]

Michael Wooldridge (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 047149691X | ISBN-13: 978-0471496915 | Publication Date: June 12, 2002 | Edition: 1

This is the first textbook to be explicitly designed for use as a course text for an undergraduate/graduate course on multi-agent systems. Assuming only a basic understanding of computer science, this text provides an introduction to all the main issues in the theory and practice of intelligent agents and multi-agent systems.

* The companion Web Site includes sample exercises, lecture slidest and hyperlinks to software referred to in the book
* Introduces agents, explains what agents are, how they are constructed and how they can be made to co-operate effectively with one another in large-scale systems
* Introduces the main issues surrounding the design of intelligent agents
* Introduces a number of typical applications for agent technology

Editorial Reviews

Review

"…an excellent introductory textbook…" (Agent Link News, November 2002)

From the Back Cover

Multiagent systems represent a new way of conceptualising and implementing distributed software. An Introduction to MultiAgent Systems is the first modern textbook on this important topic. It provides a comprehensive introduction to intelligent agents and multiagent systems. The book assumes no specialist knowledge. It introduces the idea of agents as software systems that can act autonomously, and leads the reader through a detailed discussion of:
* ways that agents can be built

* how agents can reach agreements

* the languages that agents can use to communicate with one-another

* co-operation and co-ordination in agent systems
and

* the applications of agent technology.
Designed and written specifically for undergraduates and computing professionals, the book is supported by extensive online teaching resources, including a complete set of lecture slides. Illustrated with many informal examples, and packed with more than 500 references, An Introduction to MultiAgent Systems is a must-read for students and practitioners of agent systems alike.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 348 pages
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons; 1 edition (June 12, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047149691X
• ISBN-13: 978-0471496915
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,616,321 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Introduction, April 4, 2003

By 

Bruno Wassermann (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Introduction to MultiAgent Systems (Paperback)

Wooldridge's book is a great introduction that guides the reader from motivations, over several agent architectures through to chapters about interaction, methodology and much more. It gets very close to Weiss's book on Distributed Artificial Intelligence but presents a more readable treatise leaving out some of the details and formalisms.
This book will equip the reader with the necessary foundations (and more) allowing her to explore more involved issues on her own. As a companion to Gerhard Weiss's book or as a comprehensive introduction of its own, this book is definitely unbeaten so far.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book with lot of references, August 3, 2002

By 

Paladin (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Introduction to MultiAgent Systems (Paperback)

This book gives a clear overview over the board topic of MultiAgent Systems. Explainations are easy to follow and the references at the back of the book are particularly useful for those who want to dig deeper into any specific topic. This book itself will not make one an expert in the field but it provide all necessary knowledge for further independent study.
Very easy to read even for students with English as a second language, ideal for use as a text book at university level.
(I'm a post-graduate engineering student)

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Useless, July 17, 2008

By 

Dimitri Shvorob - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Introduction to MultiAgent Systems (Paperback)

I wonder if I read the book consulted by peer reviewers. Mine was highly abstract, and did not give me any practical knowledge. I recall a very basic introduction to game theory, and a disclaimer at the beginning saying that this book was not about machine learning. I would recommend looking at Wooldridge's other books.