APACS - A MULTIAGENT SYSTEM WITH REPOSITORY SUPPORT

In this paper, we present APACS, Advanced Plant Analysis and Control S ystem, a multi-agent system (MAS) with repository support. APACS has b een designed and implemented for monitoring and diagnosing real-time n uclear power plant failures. Specifically, we demonstrate the importan ce of repository technology in achieving knowledge communication withi n a multi-agent system. In this paper, we will outline important desig n and conceptual problems such as the choice of data model, the portab ility problem, the transparency problem and the maintenance problem, e ncountered during our practical experience that will no doubt be encou ntered by other designers of MAS systems, as well as presenting our pr actical solutions and their benefits. It is hoped that this experience will be of interest to researchers due to its innovative solutions an d their impacts in the conceptual frameworks of next generation MASs, and of interest to practitioners who may benefit from the demonstratio n of both the feasibility and the economical and technical benefits of knowledge sharing using repositories in the design and implementation of MASs.