Belief/goal sharing modules for BDI languages

This paper proposes a modularisation framework for BDI based agent programming languages developed from a software engineering perspective. Like other proposals, BDI modules are seen as encapsulations of cognitive components. However, unlike other approaches, modules are here instantiated and manipulated in a similar fashion as objects in object orientation. In particular, an agent´s mental state is formed dynamically by instantiating and activating BDI modules. The agent deliberates on its active module instances, which interact by sharing their beliefs and goals. The formal semantics of the framework are provided and some desirable properties of the framework are shown.