25-10-2012, 01:02 PM
Plan Critiquing and Look-Ahead Constraint Reasoning for Active Templates
ABSTRACT
The primary objective of this program was to develop knowledge-based Active Templates technology to help Special
Operations Forces (SOF) planning staff quickly build robust and agile plans, and then monitor their execution. To this end,
we conducted research and development in four major areas. First, we developed a SOF knowledge representation language
and example scenario for representing mission plans and constraints on those plans. Second, we developed a template-based
natural language user interface to allow mission planners to input mission plan details in a format that is understandable to
both the machine and human operator. Third, we designed a branch plan specification environment with a plan critiquer and
look-ahead constraint reasoner, and demonstrated the feasibility of these designs by developing a temporal constraint reasoner.
Finally, we developed and transitioned to operational use adaptive planning software that supports collaborative mission
planning and orders production. We conclude that although successful, many areas for further research and development still
exist in all four areas including further research in plan representations to support reasoning over branch plans, implementing
the branch plan environment designs, and enhancing the adaptive planning software to interface with additional support tools
including a knowledge base for reasoning over the plan.