Abstract

This thesis tackles the implementation, application, and formalisation of a logicbased programming language for rational agents. This is based on the previous, essentially theoretical, work on MetateM. Our work here comprises three major aspects. Firstly, we provide a practical implementation of the agent programming language MetateM, extended with abilities and beliefs. Second, we extend both the implementation and application to encompass simple, but powerful grouping structures. We show how a number of sophisticated applications can be naturally developed based on these rational agent groups. Finally, in addition to providing operational semantics for both single and multi-agent implementations, we show how the grouping structures correspond closely to complex process calculi for mobile agents.