Multi-agent versus multi-robot and other Byzantine discussions

Abstract

This special issue of the Journal of Physical Agents is devoted to multi-robot systems. Some might perhaps argue that the term should have been ”multi-agent systems” or ”physical multi-agent systems”, in accordance with the title of the journal. In any language, there are clusters of several words with closely similar meanings. Expressions in science and technology are no exceptions, although they are supposed to be more specific. In particular, in the world of computer science, the term ”agent” has become a buzzword and has to be combined with numerous adjectives to be correctly understood. This short introductory article will try to justify why the name was chosen for the journal, but not for this special issue, the intended scope of the journal and the contents of this issue.