Agent Foundation Classes (AFC)

 

 

 

 

Introduction

The Agent Foundations Classes are designed to make the construction of the many types of agents a semi-automated process, in order to extend their distribution, and thus increase the usefulness and effectivity of already-existing agents.

The Agent Foundation Classes are arranged according to the language used to construct agents. All of our agents' Application Program Interfaces (APIs) are Java-based, but for constructing agents using the Agent Foundation Classes, we are currently employing C++ and C libraries. C++ is used for agents of any complexity, whereas C is limited to constructing smaller agents where speed optimization and limited resources are of great concern; agents on phones or other smaller embedded devices, including sensors and PDAs, are constructed using the C engine. The Java AFC engine is under construction.

This site includes a link to download the AFC Intallshield Wizard and libraries, instructions for testing the agents once installed, the instructions for building agents, and instructions for running the agents once they are built. We also include an overview of the class hierarchies of the agent components/types and a mapping of their respective positions/roles within the Multi-Agent System Architecture.

    Start here: Download the RETSINA AFC Developers' Guide (updated 26 Sep 03), with Introduction, Overview, User's Manual, Tools, Utilities:
  • in .PDF
  • in Postscript
  • In Html (with the following addendum)

    Addendum to AFC Developers' Guide: Comparison of AFC with other Agent-Building Systems (Html)

    AFC FAQ


    Instructions for access to AFC:

    To receive a copy of the RETSINA Agent Foundation Classes libraries and Developers' Kit, please print
    the CMU License Agreement: .
  • Read carefully and if you agree to the terms, complete the bottom portion of the Agreement. Include your name, institutional affiliation and address, a url for the website that describes your group's or your own research activities, your email address, and, if you are a student, the name, position, url and email address of your advisor. Please sign and date the agreement.
  • Send the completed agreement to us by mail at:
    Katia Sycara
    The Robotics Institute
    5000 Forbes Avenue
    PIttsburgh, PA 15213

  • We will send qualified users a user name and password via email, so that you can access the executable by downloading. from the downloads page, here.
  • If you have any questions regarding access, use, or programming, send email to the following: retsina-request at cs dot cmu dot edu. Please first see the AFC FAQ.

       Access the RETSINA MicroAFC. Start here:

  • Manual for MicroAFC
  • To receive a copy of the RETSINA MicroAFC for Linux, please print the the CMU License Agreement:
  • Read carefully and if you agree to the terms, complete the bottom portion of the Agreement. Include your name, institutional affiliation and address, a url for the website that describes your group's or your own research activities, your email address, and, if you are a student, the name, position, url and email address of your advisor. Please sign and date the agreement.
  • Send the completed agreement to us by mail at:
    Katia Sycara
    The Robotics Institute
    5000 Forbes Avenue
    PIttsburgh, PA 15213

  • We will send qualified users a user name and password via email, so that you can access the executable by downloading it from the AFC downloads page, here.

AFC Internal Site (Restricted Access).

 

 

Copyright 2006 - 2012 © Advanced Agent-Robotics Technology Lab - The Robotics Institute - Carnegie Mellon University


Internal Site (Restricted Access).