Effective Action Selection Mechanisms

Motivated by theories from ethology, artificial life researchers have proposed a set of design criteria for effective action selection mechanisms [Werner1994, Maes1991a, Tyrrell1992]. The following criteria are the basis of the behavior modeling in the artificial fish:

1. Priority of behaviors. For example, avoiding life-threatening situations should take precedence over other behaviors.
2. Persistence (or hysteresis) in behavior so that animals do not dither.
3. Compromised actions.
4. Opportunism. This refers to the temporary interruption of the ongoing behavior and the subsequent launching of another behavior which, potentially, can benefit the animal within a short period of time or with little effort. For example, if a nesting herring-gull sees food on its way to fetch stones for its nest, it may detour and eat before resuming nest building behavior.
5. Quick response time.

Xiaoyuan Tu

January 1996