HTN planning with uncontrollable durations for emergency decision-making

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Zhao, Peng^b | Wang, Hongwei^{a; b; *} | Qi, Chao^{a; b} | Liu, Dian^b

Affiliations: [a] School of Management, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China | [b] School of Automation, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. Hongwei Wang. Tel./Fax: +86 027 87540084; E-mail: hwwang@hust.edu.cn.

Abstract: This study proposes a novel temporal planning approach based on Hierarchical Task Network (HTN) with uncontrollable durations for emergency decision-making. The objective is to generate a dynamically controllable (DC) plan which takes into account uncontrollable durations beforehand and to execute the plan via scheduling the actions dynamically. In this study, the action durations are modelled as temporal intervals by Simple Temporal Network with Uncertainty (STNU). Firstly, the temporal constraints among tasks are represented and reasoned. Next, a mechanism is proposed to hierarchically inherit the temporal constraints in HTN planning. Furthermore, two works are explored to generate a DC plan more efficiently. The one is to construct a temporal network of tasks and check its dynamic controllability. The other one is to put forward two rules to boost the DC checking in planning. An empirical study on flood emergency response is conducted to evaluate the planning approach. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the planning approach for emergency decision-making.

Keywords: Hierarchical Task Network planning, uncontrollable durations, temporal management, emergency decision-making

DOI: 10.3233/JIFS-161557

Journal: Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 255-267, 2017