Fault Tolerant Software: a Multi Agent System Solution

Development of high dependable systems remains a labour intensive task. This paper explores recent advances on the adaptation of the software agent architecture for control application while looking to dependability issues. Multiple agent systems theory will be reviewed giving methods to supervise it. Software ageing is shown to be the most common problem and rejuvenation its counteract. The paper will show how an agent population can be monitored, faulty agents isolated and reloaded in a healthy state, hence rejuvenated. The aim is to propose an architecture as basis for the design of control software able to tolerate faults and residual bugs without the need of maintenance stops.