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ateolfChoose a domain that you are familiar with, and write a PAGE description of an agent for the environment. Characterize the environment as being accessible, deterministic, episodic, static, and continuous or not. What agent architecture is best for this domain?
Agent type: cd buyer; Percepts: cds on racks; Actions: select cds, purchase cds; Goals: purchase most desired cds with minimal cost; Environment: cd store
The environment is not accessible, because the buyer [can] only sense the cds directly in front of it. The environment is deterministic, because each state of the buyer's decision-making process is based on the cds previously looked at and the decisions and actions the buyer has already made. It is nonepisodic, because whether a buyer decides to purchase a cd or not is dependent on all the cds it has looked at before and will look at in the future. The environment is dynamic, because the store is open only for so many hours and it is possible that the buyer could decide to go back and get a cd it previously looked at but someone else may have purchased it since. However, it could be considered static in theory, because it is unlikely the buyer will need the store's entire business hours to make a decision, even if it browses the entire selection (this is another matter if the buyer walks in, say, 5 minutes to close). Also, the event of someone purchasing a cd out from under the buyer is highly unlikely, but as it is possible, it is best to consider it dynamic. Another possibility that is even more likely is that the employees will add stock to the shelves while the buyer is still browsing. The environment is discreet, because each action is limited to each cd the store holds. While there may be a large number, it is definately finite and in the end each cd may be looked upon as a "yes" or "no" decision. A utility-based architecture is best for this domain, because it is far from just a matter of getting cds, but getting the ones that will make the buyer most happy (in a literal sense). Balancing cost is also a crucial issue, because the hardest part of the decision is not which cds to get but which cds not to get.
Agent type: cd buyer; Percepts: cds on racks; Actions: select cds, purchase cds; Goals: purchase most desired cds with minimal cost; Environment: cd store
The environment is not accessible, because the buyer [can] only sense the cds directly in front of it. The environment is deterministic, because each state of the buyer's decision-making process is based on the cds previously looked at and the decisions and actions the buyer has already made. It is nonepisodic, because whether a buyer decides to purchase a cd or not is dependent on all the cds it has looked at before and will look at in the future. The environment is dynamic, because the store is open only for so many hours and it is possible that the buyer could decide to go back and get a cd it previously looked at but someone else may have purchased it since. However, it could be considered static in theory, because it is unlikely the buyer will need the store's entire business hours to make a decision, even if it browses the entire selection (this is another matter if the buyer walks in, say, 5 minutes to close). Also, the event of someone purchasing a cd out from under the buyer is highly unlikely, but as it is possible, it is best to consider it dynamic. Another possibility that is even more likely is that the employees will add stock to the shelves while the buyer is still browsing. The environment is discreet, because each action is limited to each cd the store holds. While there may be a large number, it is definately finite and in the end each cd may be looked upon as a "yes" or "no" decision. A utility-based architecture is best for this domain, because it is far from just a matter of getting cds, but getting the ones that will make the buyer most happy (in a literal sense). Balancing cost is also a crucial issue, because the hardest part of the decision is not which cds to get but which cds not to get.
