Multiple objective behavior-based control

The notion of optimality and its feasibility are revisited in the context of behavior-based control. It is argued that optimal behavior is not feasible for real-world applications. As an alternative to optimality I promote Pareto-optimal and satisficing solutions which correspond to efficient and ''good enough" behavior. It is then demonstrated that multiple objective decision theory provides a suitable framework for formulating behavior-based controllers that generate Pareto-optimal and satisficing behavior. A set of simulated and real-world experiments are reported that support this view. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.