Logic-Based Ethical Planning

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel ethical planning framework for robotics that combines temporal logic with preference modeling, enabling assessment of plans based on values and desires, and explores its computational complexity.

Contribution

It presents a new expressive language for ethical planning, integrating temporal logic and lexicographic preferences, and introduces the concept of morality level in planning.

Findings

Assessment of plans using morality levels

Analysis of computational complexity of ethical planning tasks

Potential applications in robotic decision making

Abstract

In this paper we propose a framework for ethical decision making in the context of planning, with intended application to robotics. We put forward a compact but highly expressive language for ethical planning that combines linear temporal logic with lexicographic preference modelling. This original combination allows us to assess plans both with respect to an agent's values and their desires, introducing the novel concept of the morality level of an agent and moving towards multigoal, multivalue planning. We initiate the study of computational complexity of planning tasks in our setting, and we discuss potential applications to robotics.