Here is a list of main research areas that the people in the group are interested in.

Multi-agent Technology	In current network environment, using multi-agent technology promises improving efficiency and simplification of software development. This technology is based on idea of distributing the original task to several agents that solves parts of the task. We are working on: using agents in transformations of logic programs application of multi-agent technology to scheduling Contact: Jan Hruza (transformations), Roman Barták (scheduling)
Advanced Planning and Scheduling	Production planning and scheduling is a challenging area of industrial applications because of its inner complexity. The task is to prepare a production plan or a schedule for specified duration according to factory and workforce restrictions and custom orders. We are working on: application of AI and CP techniques to planning and scheduling problems development of a generic scheduling engine studying the edge between planning and scheduling Contact: Roman Barták
Transformations of Logic Programs	Transformations of Logic Programs have been used for several different purposes. Usually, they help to decrease the computational or descriptive complexity of the initial logic program. Transformations are applicable in a wider domain of declarative programming. The techniques of transformations that have been developed so far concern two levels of declarative programming, namely to the object level which roughly coincides with the standard Logic or Prolog Programming and to the level of Higher-order Logic programming. The object level methods are working with individual clauses of the transformed program while the higher-order transformations are based on higher-order variables and predicates that can cope with larger portions of programs by means of so-called program schemata. There are some similarities between higher-order transformations and Meta-programming. We are trying to develop new methods supporting systematic and structured development of logic programs in declarative environment. We are analyzing the applicability of such techniques to common data structures in order to identify specific programming techniques, of transformations of logic programs both directly by means of the transformation of the source code and by higher-order transformations. Contact: Petr Stepanek, Jan Hruza
Meta-programming	Meta-programming is a well-known technique widely used in logic programming and artificial intelligence. This technique is based on idea of using program structures as data for program. We are working on design of general techniques for writing extendible (open) meta-interpreters which can be easily customized for various purposes, developing techniques for extending features of traditional interpreters (meta-variables, constructive negation). Contact: Roman Barták
Constraint Programming	Constraint programming is an emergent software technology for declarative description and effective solving of large, particularly combinatorial, problems especially in the areas of planning and scheduling. We are interested in solving over-constrained problems using constraint hierarchy concept, practical applications of constraint programming in traditional areas of planning and scheduling, new areas of practical applications like decision support systems. Contact: Roman Barták
Augmenting Logic Programming with Functional Principles	TBA Contact: Jan Hric