Journal profile · Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems
ISSN 1387-2532 · eISSN 1573-7454 · Springer US · UNITED STATES · Bimonthly · Founded 1998
Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems: CAS Zone 3 · Computer Science (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 2.41; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,290; median 373 days to acceptance (49 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: easy; 41 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems is published by Springer US and is in Zone 3 of Computer Science in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Multi-Agent Systems and Negotiation, Auction Theory and Applications and Logic, Reasoning, and Knowledge, together about 39.2% of its articles. Its main subfields are Artificial Intelligence. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The journal provides a leading forum for disseminating significant original research results in the foundations, theory, development, analysis, and applications of autonomous agents and multi-agent systems. Specific topics of interest include, but are not restricted to:Agent decision-making architectures and their evaluation, including deliberative, practical reasoning, reactive/behavioural, plan-based, and hybrid architectures.Cooperation and teamwork, including organizational structuring and design for multi-agent systems, self-organization, emergent functionality and swarm intelligence. Multi-agent planning and planning for multi-agent systems, and the coordination of multi-agent plans and activities. Computational auction systems, computational market systems, algorithmic/automated mechanism design, automated negotiation, computational aspects of game theory (cooperative and non-cooperative), and computational social choice theory. Knowledge representation and reasoning for, and logical foundations of, autonomous agents and multi-agent systems. Agent programming languages - their implementation, semantics, and evaluation.Distributed constraint processing and distributed constraint optimization. Multi-agent argumentation and dialogue, conflict detection and resolution. Multi-agent learning, co-learning, and evolutionary approaches in multi-agent systems. Learning agents, including: computational architectures for learning agents; evolution, adaptation; multi-agent learning. Agent communication languages, their semantics, pragmatics, and implementation, and agent communication protocols and conversations. Conventions, commitments, norms, obligations, and social laws in multi-agent systems, and models of trust and reputation. Believable and synthetic agents and characters, and human-agent interaction.Environments, testbeds, and program ming languages for experimentation with, and analysis of, agent systems. Ontologies for agent systems, agents and the semantic web, agents and semantic web services, Grid-based systems, and service-oriented computing. Robotic agents, including: integrated perception, cognition, and action; cognitive robotics; robot planning (including action and motion planning); multi-robot systems. Agents as a software engineering paradigm, including agent system development, specification and verification of agent systems, methodologies for autonomous agents and multi-agent systems, analysis and design for multi-agent systems, evaluation
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Editor-in-chief Yevgeniy VorobeychikPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 1 in mainland China (about 2%); most named United States 15, United Kingdom 11, Netherlands 6, Israel 3, Germany 2 (56 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Multi-Agent Systems and NegotiationComputer Science17.2%
- Auction Theory and ApplicationsDecision Sciences11.6%
- Logic, Reasoning, and KnowledgeComputer Science10.5%
- Game Theory and Voting SystemsEconomics, Econometrics and Finance7.7%
- Reinforcement Learning in RoboticsComputer Science6.9%
- Game Theory and ApplicationsDecision Sciences6.4%
- Semantic Web and OntologiesComputer Science4.3%
- AI-based Problem Solving and PlanningComputer Science3.5%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Computer Science Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Automation & Control Systems | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Computer Science Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Automation & Control Systems | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Computer Science Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Automation & Control Systems | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
EI CompendexINSPECDBLPCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, ACM Digital Library, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 2.41LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 2.4Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 2.9Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 7.7LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.72LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.76LetPub ·
- h-index
- 64LetPub ·
- h-index
- 91OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 558OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.47OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 4.2%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 54.29%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 40LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 277,600Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 984 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 42 | 30 | 13 |
| 2025 | 41 | 30 | 66 |
| 2024 | 52 | 41 | 389 |
| 2023 | 38 | 21 | 192 |
| 2022 | 55 | 36 | 1,021 |
| 2021 | 49 | 28 | 566 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
373 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 226 days – 609 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 22 days (86 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 414 days
- Sample
- 49 articles with submission and acceptance dates (97 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- over 12 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 9 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,290 / EUR 2,690 / GBP 2,390 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
Article types accepted10
- book reviewManuscript (Regular Paper), Editorial, Survey Paper, Tutorial, Review, Viewpoint. Brief Communication, Book Review Survey and tutorial papers are comprehensive …Length not stated
- brief communicationManuscript (Regular Paper), Editorial, Survey Paper, Tutorial, Review, Viewpoint. Brief Communication, Book Review Survey and tutorial papers are comprehensive …Length not stated
- editorialManuscript (Regular Paper), Editorial, Survey Paper, Tutorial, Review, Viewpoint. Brief Communication, Book Review Survey and tutorial papers are comprehensive …Length not stated
- original researchManuscript (Regular Paper), Editorial, Survey Paper, Tutorial, Review, Viewpoint. Brief Communication, Book Review Survey and tutorial papers are comprehensive …Length not stated
- original research paperManuscript (Regular Paper), Editorial, Survey Paper, Tutorial, Review, Viewpoint. Brief Communication, Book Review Survey and tutorial papers are comprehensive …Length not stated
- regular paperManuscript (Regular Paper), Editorial, Survey Paper, Tutorial, Review, Viewpoint. Brief Communication, Book Review Survey and tutorial papers are comprehensive …Length not stated
- reviewManuscript (Regular Paper), Editorial, Survey Paper, Tutorial, Review, Viewpoint. Brief Communication, Book Review Survey and tutorial papers are comprehensive …Length not stated
- surveyManuscript (Regular Paper), Editorial, Survey Paper, Tutorial, Review, Viewpoint. Brief Communication, Book Review Survey and tutorial papers are comprehensive …Length not stated
- tutorialManuscript (Regular Paper), Editorial, Survey Paper, Tutorial, Review, Viewpoint. Brief Communication, Book Review Survey and tutorial papers are comprehensive …Length not stated
- viewpointManuscript (Regular Paper), Editorial, Survey Paper, Tutorial, Review, Viewpoint. Brief Communication, Book Review Survey and tutorial papers are comprehensive …Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access
- AI use Generative AI Images
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
Originality and exclusivity of submissions Model summary
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
Data transparency Model summary
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Permissions for previously published material Model summary
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Springer US
- Country or region
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Bimonthly
- Founded
- 1998
- ISSN
- 1387-2532
- Electronic ISSN
- 1573-7454
- Society / sponsor
- International Foundation for Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems
What CAS zone is Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems is in Zone 3 of Computer Science, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Automation & Control Systems / Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Computer Science. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 2.41; CiteScore 7.7, h-index 91.
How long does peer review take at Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems?
Based on the dates recorded on 49 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 373 days (interquartile range 226–609 days); authors report an average review time of over 12 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Suggested reviewers: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems based?
Of the 56 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 1 (about 2%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (15), United Kingdom (11) and Netherlands (6). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists EI Compendex, INSPEC, DBLP and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems open access, and what is the APC?
Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,290.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .