Hierarchical Agent Pattern
The Hierarchical Agent Pattern organizes AI agents in a tree-like structure where higher-level agents coordinate and manage lower-level specialized agents.
Pattern Overview
This pattern creates a multi-level agent architecture where management agents delegate tasks to specialized worker agents, enabling scalable and organized problem-solving.
Structure
use std::collections::HashMap;
// Agent levels in hierarchy
#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
pub enum AgentLevel {
Executive,
Manager,
Worker,
}
// Task types for different agent levels
#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
pub struct Task {
pub id: String,
pub task_type: String,
pub complexity: u8,
pub data: String,
}
// Base agent trait
pub trait HierarchicalAgent {
fn get_level(&self) -> AgentLevel;
fn can_handle(&self, task: &Task) -> bool;
fn execute(&self, task: &Task) -> Result<String, String>;
fn delegate(&self, task: &Task, subordinates: &[Box<dyn HierarchicalAgent>]) -> Result<String, String>;
}
// Executive agent - highest level
pub struct ExecutiveAgent {
id: String,
}
impl ExecutiveAgent {
pub fn new(id: &str) -> Self {
Self { id: id.to_string() }
}
}
impl HierarchicalAgent for ExecutiveAgent {
fn get_level(&self) -> AgentLevel {
AgentLevel::Executive
}
fn can_handle(&self, task: &Task) -> bool {
task.complexity >= 8
}
fn execute(&self, task: &Task) -> Result<String, String> {
Ok(format!("Executive {} analyzing strategic task: {}", self.id, task.id))
}
fn delegate(&self, task: &Task, subordinates: &[Box<dyn HierarchicalAgent>]) -> Result<String, String> {
// Find appropriate manager
for subordinate in subordinates {
if subordinate.can_handle(task) {
return subordinate.execute(task);
}
}
Err("No suitable subordinate found".to_string())
}
}
// Manager agent - middle level
pub struct ManagerAgent {
id: String,
department: String,
}
impl ManagerAgent {
pub fn new(id: &str, department: &str) -> Self {
Self {
id: id.to_string(),
department: department.to_string(),
}
}
}
impl HierarchicalAgent for ManagerAgent {
fn get_level(&self) -> AgentLevel {
AgentLevel::Manager
}
fn can_handle(&self, task: &Task) -> bool {
task.complexity >= 4 && task.complexity < 8
}
fn execute(&self, task: &Task) -> Result<String, String> {
Ok(format!("Manager {} in {} handling task: {}", self.id, self.department, task.id))
}
fn delegate(&self, task: &Task, subordinates: &[Box<dyn HierarchicalAgent>]) -> Result<String, String> {
// Break down task and delegate to workers
for subordinate in subordinates {
if subordinate.can_handle(task) {
return subordinate.execute(task);
}
}
self.execute(task)
}
}
// Worker agent - lowest level
pub struct WorkerAgent {
id: String,
specialty: String,
}
impl WorkerAgent {
pub fn new(id: &str, specialty: &str) -> Self {
Self {
id: id.to_string(),
specialty: specialty.to_string(),
}
}
}
impl HierarchicalAgent for WorkerAgent {
fn get_level(&self) -> AgentLevel {
AgentLevel::Worker
}
fn can_handle(&self, task: &Task) -> bool {
task.complexity < 4 && task.task_type == self.specialty
}
fn execute(&self, task: &Task) -> Result<String, String> {
Ok(format!("Worker {} executing {} task: {}", self.id, self.specialty, task.id))
}
fn delegate(&self, _task: &Task, _subordinates: &[Box<dyn HierarchicalAgent>]) -> Result<String, String> {
Err("Worker agents cannot delegate".to_string())
}
}Usage Example
let executive = ExecutiveAgent::new("CEO");
let manager = ManagerAgent::new("PM1", "Analytics");
let worker = WorkerAgent::new("W1", "data_processing");
let task = Task {
id: "T001".to_string(),
task_type: "data_processing".to_string(),
complexity: 3,
data: "customer_data.csv".to_string(),
};
let subordinates: Vec<Box<dyn HierarchicalAgent>> = vec![
Box::new(manager),
Box::new(worker),
];
let result = executive.delegate(&task, &subordinates);Benefits
- Scalability: Handle complex problems through decomposition
- Specialization: Agents focus on their expertise areas
- Clear Authority: Well-defined chain of command
- Load Distribution: Efficient task allocation across levels
Use Cases
- Complex business process automation
- Multi-stage data analysis pipelines
- Organizational workflow modeling
- Resource allocation and management