Agent Performance

An agent function implements a mapping from perception history to action. The behaviour and performance of intelligent agents have to be evaluated in terms of the agent function.

The ideal mapping specifies which actions an agent ought to take at any point in time.

The performance measure is a subjective measure to characterize how successful an agent is. The success can be measured in various ways. It can be measured in terms of speed or

efficiency of the agent. It can be measured by the accuracy or the quality of the solutions

achieved by the agent. It can also be measured by power usage, money, etc.

Examples of Agents

1. Humans can be looked upon as agents. They have eyes, ears, skin, taste buds, etc. for

sensors; and hands, fingers, legs, mouth for effectors.

2. Robots are agents. Robots may have camera, sonar, infrared, bumper, etc. for sensors.

They can have grippers, wheels, lights, speakers, etc. for actuators.

Some examples of robots are Xavier from CMU, COG from MIT, etc.

Xavier Robot (CMU)

Then we have the AIBO entertainment robot from SONY.

Aibo from SONY

3. We also have software agents or softbots that have some functions as sensors and some

functions as actuators. Askjeeves.com is an example of a softbot.

4. Expert systems like the Cardiologist is an agent.

5. Autonomous spacecrafts.

6. Intelligent buildings.

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