Task & Goal Decomposition in Multi-Agent Systems

Task and goal decomposition in multi-agent systems involves breaking down complex tasks into simpler, manageable components that can be executed by multiple agents. This technique enhances collaboration, efficiency, and scalability within systems.

• **Task Decomposition**: The process of dividing a larger task into smaller sub-tasks.
• **Goal Decomposition**: Breaking down a goal into smaller, achievable objectives.
• **Agent Coordination**: Strategies for managing interactions and dependencies between agents.
• **Hierarchical Task Network (HTN)**: A planning method that uses decomposition to create a plan based on tasks.

1. **Identify the Main Goal**: Determine the overall objective that needs to be achieved.
2. **Break Down the Goal**: Decompose the main goal into smaller, more manageable goals.
3. **Define Tasks**: For each smaller goal, identify the specific tasks needed to achieve it.
4. **Assign Agents**: Allocate tasks to different agents based on their capabilities.
5. **Establish Coordination Mechanisms**: Develop communication and coordination strategies among agents.

• **Modularity**: Keep tasks and goals modular for easy modification and scalability.
• **Clear Communication**: Ensure agents have a clear communication protocol to coordinate effectively.
• **Monitor Progress**: Implement monitoring tools to track task completion and agent performance.
• **Iterative Refinement**: Regularly refine tasks and goals based on agent feedback and system performance.

The following Python pseudocode demonstrates a simple task decomposition in a multi-agent system:

class Agent:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name

    def perform_task(self, task):
        print(f"{self.name} is performing task: {task}")

def main():
    agents = [Agent("Agent A"), Agent("Agent B"), Agent("Agent C")]
    tasks = ["Task 1", "Task 2", "Task 3"]

    for i, task in enumerate(tasks):
        agents[i % len(agents)].perform_task(task)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()