Analyzing Search Topology Without Running Any Search: On the Connection Between Causal Graphs and h+

The ignoring delete lists relaxation is of paramount importance for both satisficing and optimal planning. In earlier work, it was observed that the optimal relaxation heuristic h+ has amazing qualities in many classical planning benchmarks, in particular pertaining to the complete absence of local minima. The proofs of this are hand-made, raising the question whether such proofs can be lead automatically by domain analysis techniques. In contrast to earlier disappointing results – the analysis method has exponential runtime and succeeds only in two extremely simple benchmark domains – we herein answer this question in the affirmative. We establish connections between causal graph structure and h+ topology. This results in low-order polynomial time analysis methods, implemented in a tool we call TorchLight. Of the 12 domains where the absence of local minima has been proved, TorchLight gives strong success guarantees in 8 domains. Empirically, its analysis exhibits strong perform...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2011
• Where: JAIR
• Authors: J. Hoffmann
• Keywords: Control Systems, Diagnostic Output, Graph Structure, JAIR 2011, Polynomial Time