Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Teleo-Reactive Programs Are Reaching Their Goals
Teleo-Reactive Programs (TRPs) help robots and other machine intelligences achieve goals, not just specific behaviors. Most of the robots working today make use of discrete actions (like a welding robot in an automobile plant that makes specific welds in pre-programmed parts of a frame). These robots are extensions of the mechanical automata of the 18th century, in that they have only pre-programmed behavior. (In a purely mechanical system, the "programming" is done in the design of the device itself.)
One way that TRPs can begin to approximate conscious intelligence is by making use of durative actions. The idea is that a durative action is executed until a particular goal is met; for example, "keep moving forward until you meet the wall." A discrete command is a one-time movement that is executed, like "Move forward one yard."
TRSoccerbots is an example of a program that makes use of TRPs. It is a soccer simulation in which the machine tries to score goals by executing a set of rules that encourage goals to happen, rather than a mechanical specification of exactly how to proceed.
(From TRSoccerbots.org)
The bots are programmed by setting rules; here's how the rules work to achieve top-level goals:
"The rules at the top of the list are usually the ones that are relevant when the robot is close to achieving a particular goal, and the bottom rules are relevant when the robot is far from its goal. The idea is that the bottom rules trigger actions that change the world in such a way that the conditions higher in the list become satisfied. For most humans, this way of organizing the rules in a teleo-reactive program is most natural." (From TRSoccerbots.org)
For a good example of a goal-seeking robot in sf, check out the hangman from Roger Zelazny's 1976 novella My Name Is Legion
For more information, see The Age of Purposeful Machines and A Web Page for Teleo-Reactive Programs. Graphics and quote from TRSoccerbots.org. See a brief video clip of soccerbots at http://trsoccerbots.org/downloads/trsoccer.wmv.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 5/24/2004)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 2 )
Related News Stories - (" Robotics ")
Atlas Robot Makes Uncomfortable Movements
'Not like me. A T-1000, advanced prototype. A mimetic poly-alloy. Liquid metal.' - James Cameron, 1991.
Humanoid Robots Tickle The Ivories
'The massive feet working the pedals, arms and hands flashing and glinting...' - Herbert Goldstone, 1953.
Golf Ball Test Robot Wears Them Out
"The robot solemnly hit a ball against the wall, picked it up and teed it, hit it again, over and again...' - Frederik Poh, 1954.
PaXini Supersensitive Robot Fingers
'My fingers are not that sensitive...' - Ray Cummings, 1931.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
The New Habitable Zones Include Asimov's Ribbon Worlds
'...there's a narrow belt where the climate is moderate.'
Can One Robot Do Many Tasks?
'... with the Master-operator all you have to do is push one! A remarkable achievement!'
Atlas Robot Makes Uncomfortable Movements
'Not like me. A T-1000, advanced prototype. A mimetic poly-alloy. Liquid metal.'
Boring Company Drills Asimov's Single Vehicle Tunnels
'It was riddled with holes that were the mouths of tunnels.'
Humanoid Robots Tickle The Ivories
'The massive feet working the pedals, arms and hands flashing and glinting...'
A Remarkable Coincidence
'There is a philosophical problem of some difficulty here...'
Cortex 1 - Today A Warehouse, Tomorrow A Calculator Planet
'There were cubic miles of it, and it glistened like a silvery Christmas tree...'
Perching Ambush Drones
'On the chest of drawers something was perched.'
Leader-Follower Autonomous Vehicle Technology
'Jason had been guiding the caravan of cars as usual...'
Golf Ball Test Robot Wears Them Out
"The robot solemnly hit a ball against the wall, picked it up and teed it, hit it again, over and again...'
Boring Company Vegas Loop Like Asimov Said
'There was a wall ahead... It was riddled with holes that were the mouths of tunnels.'
Rigid Metallic Clothing From Science Fiction To You
'...support the interior human structure against Jupiter’s pull.'
Is The Seattle Ultrasonics C-200 A Heinlein Vibroblade?
'It ain't a vibroblade. It's steel. Messy.'
Roborock Saros Z70 Is A Robot Vacuum With An Arm
'Anything larger than a BB shot it picked up and placed in a tray...'
A Beautiful Visualization Of Compact Food
'The German chemists have discovered how to supply the needed elements in compact, undiluted form...'
Bone-Building Drug Evenity Approved
'Compounds devised by the biochemists for the rapid building of bone...'
