<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<?xml-stylesheet href="client.xsl" type="text/xsl"?>
<article article-type="other">
<front>
<journal-meta>
<journal-id/>
<issn/>
<banner>
<!--<href>banner.jpg</href>-->
<size width="100%"/>
</banner>
</journal-meta>
<article-meta>
<title-group>
<article-title>Goals in the Context of BDI Plan Failure and Planning</article-title>
</title-group>

<author><a href="mailto:ssardina@cs.rmit.edu.au"><name>Sebastian Sardina</name></a></author>
<aff>RMIT University Melbourne, Australia</aff>

<author><a href="mailto:linpa@cs.rmit.edu.au"><name>Lin Padgham</name></a></author>
<aff>RMIT University Melbourne, Australia</aff>
</article-meta></front>
<body>
<abstract>
<title>ABSTRACT</title>
<p>We develop a Belief-Desire-Intention (BDI) style agent-oriented
programming language with special emphasis on the semantics of
<italic>goals</italic> in the presence of the typical BDI failure handling present
in many BDI systems and a novel account of hierarchical lookahead
planning. The work builds incrementally on two existing languages
and accommodates three type of goals: classical BDI-style
event goals, declarative goals, and planning goals. We mainly focus
on the <italic>dynamics</italic> of these type of goals and, in particular, on a
kind of commitment scheme that brings the new language closer
to the solid existing work in agent theory. To that end, we develop
a semantics that recognises the usual hierarchical structure
of active goals as well as their declarative aspects. In contrast
with previous languages, the new language prevents an agent from
blindly persisting with a (blocked) <italic>subsidiary</italic> goal when an alternative
strategy for achieving a higher-level motivating goal exists.
In addition, the new semantics ensures watchfulness by the agent
to ensure that goals that succeed or are deemed impossible are immediately
dropped, thus conforming to the requirements of basic
rational commitment strategy. Finally, a mechanism for the proactive
adoption of new goals, other than the mere reaction to events,
and a formal account of interaction with the external environment
are provided. We believe that the new language is an important
step towards turning <italic>practical</italic> BDI programming languages more
compatible with the established results in the area of agent theory.</p>
</abstract>
<fpdf>
<href>pdflogo.jpg</href>
<hpdf>AAMAS07_0225_c59840c23cef3f87560501b929858053</hpdf>
</fpdf>
</body>
</article>
