Generating Abstraction Hierarchies presents a completely automated approach to generating abstractions for problem solving. The abstractions are generated using a tractable, domain-independent algorithm whose only inputs are the definition of a problem space and the problem to be solved and whose output is an abstraction hierarchy that is tailored to the particular problem. The algorithm generates abstraction hierarchies that satisfy the 'ordered monotonicity' property, which guarantees that the structure of an abstract solution is not changed in the process of refining it. An abstraction hierarchy with this property allows a problem to be decomposed such that the solution in an abstract space can be held invariant while the remaining parts of a problem are solved. The algorithm for generating abstractions is implemented in a system called ALPINE, which generates abstractions for a hierarchical version of the PRODIGY problem solver. Generating Abstraction Hierarchies formally defines this hierarchical problem solving method, shows that under certain assumptions this method can reduce the size of a search space from exponential to linear in the solution size, and describes the implementation of this method in PRODIGY. The abstractions generated by ALPINE are tested in multiple domains on large problem sets and are shown to produce shorter solutions with significantly less search than problem solving without using abstraction. Generating Abstraction Hierarchies will be of interest to researchers in machine learning, planning and problem reformation.
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Springer
ISBN-13
9780792393108
eBay Product ID (ePID)
94742206
Product Key Features
Author
Craig A. Knoblock
Publication Name
Generating Abstraction Hierarchies: an Automated Approach to Reducing Search in Planning
Format
Hardcover
Language
English
Subject
Computer Science
Publication Year
1993
Type
Textbook
Number of Pages
168 Pages
Dimensions
Item Height
235mm
Item Width
155mm
Volume
214
Item Weight
445g
Additional Product Features
Title_Author
Craig A. Knoblock
Series Title
The Springer International Series in Engineering and Computer Science