OMEGA: An Ontology-Driven Tool for Explaining Multi-Agent Path Finding

Authors

  • Bharath Muppasani University of South Carolina, USA
  • Ritirupa Dey University of South Carolina, USA
  • Biplav Srivastava University of South Carolina, USA
  • Vignesh Narayanan University of South Carolina, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1609/aaai.v40i48.42367

Abstract

Multi-Agent Path Finding (MAPF) algorithms provide highly optimized solutions for coordinating multiple agents in shared environments, yet their outputs lack explainability to human stakeholders. Existing explanation approaches, such as visual trace segmentation or logic-based reasoning, remain fragmented. In this demo, we present OMEGA, an interactive explanation platform that generates Natural Language (NL) explanations using the novel Multi-Agent Planning Ontology (maPO). Our framework transforms raw MAPF planner execution logs into a semantic knowledge graph, enabling SPARQL-based explanations of collision events, replanning strategies, and efficiency trade-offs. A lightweight web interface allows users to query, visualize, and interpret planner decisions, thereby making MAPF solutions transparent and auditable. We conducted a user study that confirms the ontology-driven explanations are significantly clearer and more preferred than raw logs, underscoring the potential of semantic technologies for explainable multi-agent systems.

Published

2026-03-14

How to Cite

Muppasani, B., Dey, R., Srivastava, B., & Narayanan, V. (2026). OMEGA: An Ontology-Driven Tool for Explaining Multi-Agent Path Finding. Proceedings of the AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence, 40(48), 41643–41645. https://doi.org/10.1609/aaai.v40i48.42367