Features and Fluents: The Representation of Knowledge About Dynamical SystemsVolume 1

by Erik Sandewall

Overview

Techniques for reasoning about actions and change in the physical world are among the classic research topics in artificial intelligence, motivated by the needs of autonomous robots which must be able to anticipate future developments and analyze problems. This monograph presents a novel methodology for such reasoning. It is based on a systematic approach for identifying the exact range of applicability of a given logic, as opposed to traditional methods based on proposing new logic variants supported by episodical examples. For a number of previously proposed logics, as well as for some new ones, this work characterizes exactly the class of those reasoning tasks where the logic results in the intended set of conclusions, and the class were it does not. The book will be a necessary resource for researchers in knowledge representation, cognitive robotics, and intelligent control. It can also be recommended as a graduate-level text in these fields, especially in light of its emphasis on a strict and systematic methodology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198538455
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	02/09/1995
Series:	Oxford Logic Guides , #30
Edition description:	001
Pages:	346
Product dimensions:	6.38(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.98(d)

About the Author

Linkoping University

Table of Contents

1. Inert and inhabited dynamical systems2. Inference operations on scenario descriptions3. Underlying semantics for IDS worlds4. Elementary feature logic and meta-logical concepts5. Lexical-domain object-feature logic6. Temporal feature logic for discrete time domains7. Chronicle completion in κ-IA8. Intended models for chronicles in κ-IA9. Entailment methods for κ-IA using DFL-110. Duration constraints11. Entailment methods for κ-IA using occlusion12. Composite actions13. Upper applicability bounds and assessment of soundness14. Future directionsA. Term indexB. NotationC. References to related work

Editorial Reviews

"Those working in nonmonotonic reasoning, planning, temporal logic, reasoning about actions, and change, and related areas will find this book worth reading."—Computing Reviews

"The book presents deep and serious insight into inert and inhabited dynamical systems." —Zentralblatt fur Mathematik

From the Publisher