Solution

The correct answer is : option 3

Key Points

A. They must be identical in their capabilities and goals.
Status: Incorrect.

Explanation: Agents in a MAS can be heterogeneous. This means they can have different roles, different skill sets, and even conflicting goals (e.g., in a competitive trading environment). They do not have to be identical.

B. They are autonomous and act independently.
Status: Correct.

Explanation: Autonomy is the most critical feature of an agent. It means the agent has control over its own internal state and makes its own decisions based on its programming and perceptions without direct human or external intervention.

C. They interact with each other and their environment.
Status: Correct.

Explanation: An agent "lives" in an environment. In a MAS, the environment includes other agents. They must be able to socialize or communicate (interact) to coordinate, compete, or negotiate.

D. They are controlled by a single, centralized authority at all times.
Status: Incorrect.

Explanation: One of the main reasons we use MAS is to avoid centralized control. MAS is typically decentralized and distributed. If there were a single central "brain" controlling every move, it would be a single-agent system with many "remote-controlled arms," not a system of independent agents.