A Collaborative Multi-Agent Framework for Internet-Based Teleoperation Systems

This paper presents a conceptual model of an agent (called Collaborator Agent) intended to design collaborative software architectures based on multi-agent systems. The authors’ model combines astutely two research areas: Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) and Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW). The particularity of their approach is the division of the collaborative process into three spaces according to Ellis’ 3C model: communication, coordination and production. In their work, the authors extend the 3C model by adding a fourth space: collaboration. Hence, the authors present a model based on four types of agents (collaboration, communication, coordination and production) supporting the whole set of collaborative tasks. The model is used to create the conceptual software architecture of their MAS. The authors apply their conceptual model on the ARITI-C system for collaborative online robot teleoperation. Finally, the authors present a quantitative evaluation of the collaboration process in ARITI-C. A Collaborative Multi-Agent Framework for Internet-Based Teleoperation Systems