Module 20234 (2007)

Syllabus page 2007/2008

06-20234
Planning (Extended)

Level 4/M

Richard Dearden
10 credits in Semester 2

Links | Outline | Aims | Outcomes | Prerequisites | Teaching | Assessment | Books | Detailed Syllabus


The Module Description is a strict subset of this Syllabus Page. (The University module description has not yet been checked against the School's.)

Relevant Links

For more information (like notes, handouts) see the module web page at http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/~rwd/planning_slides.html.


Outline


Aims

The aims of this module are to:

  • introduce the basic concepts and terminology of planning
  • give an overview of the main approaches to planning, including classical approaches as well as recent developments
  • present the strengths and limitations of the different approaches
  • enable students to read up-to-date research papers in planning

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, the student should be able to: Assessed by:
1explain the main approaches to planning, both 'classical' and recent developments Examination
2understand and discuss the advantages and limitations of these approaches Examination
3apply planning algorithms to previously unseen examples Continuous Assessment, Examination
4survey research papers and discuss relevant developments in the field and suitable approaches to solving a given problem Continuous Assessment

Restrictions, Prerequisites and Corequisites

Restrictions:

May not be taken by anyone who has taken or is taking 06-02562 (Planning).

Prerequisites:

Some knowledge of AI is assumed.

Co-requisites:

None


Teaching

Teaching Methods:

2 hrs/week lectures, discussion classes, short presentations of original publications.

Contact Hours:

24


Assessment

  • Sessional: 1.5 hr examination (80%), continuous assessment (20%).
  • Supplementary (where allowed): By examination only with the continuous assessment mark carried forward.

Recommended Books

TitleAuthor(s)Publisher, Date
Automated Planning: Theory and PracticeGhallab M, Nau D & Traverso P2004
Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach (Second Edition)Russell S & Norvig P2003
Artificial Intelligence: A New SynthesisNilsson NJ1998

Detailed Syllabus

  1. Basic notions of planning
    • Goals
    • Blocks World
    • Deductive planning
    • Frame problem, frame axioms (tractability)
    • Planning as search (breadth-first search, depth-first search, heuristic search)
  2. Planning with STRIPS, Representation, Search, Limits
    • Interaction of partial goals
    • Unsolvable problems
    • Planning for simultaneous goals (solution to the so-called Sussman anomaly)
  3. Non-Linear Planning
    • Basic idea and notions
    • Classification and solution of conflicts
    • Critics
    • Linear vs. non-linear planning
  4. Efficient methods (GraphPlan, SAT planning)
  5. Hierarchical Planning
    • Planning with abstraction of situations
    • Planning with abstraction of operators
  6. Advanced topics in planning

Last updated: 5 Jun 2007

Source file: /internal/modules/COMSCI/2007/xml/20234.xml

Links | Outline | Aims | Outcomes | Prerequisites | Teaching | Assessment | Books | Detailed Syllabus