A Dynamic Logic Based Action Theory for Planning

We present a logic for action theory based on a modal language, where modalities represent actions. The frame problem is tackled by using a nonmonotonic formalism which maximizes persistency assumptions. The problem of ramification is tackled by introducing a modal causality operator which is used to represent causal rules. Assumptions on the values of fluents in the initial state allow to reason with incomplete initial states and to do postdiction. The action theory can also deal with non-minimal change and nondeterministic and concurrent actions.

We show how a high level action theory of this type can be transformed in order to be used as a planning formalism.