ARLO: Another Representation Language Offer.
Abstract
This paper describes ARLO, a representation language language loosely modelled after Greiner and Lenat's RLL-1. ARLO is a structure-based representation language for describing structure-based representation languages, including itself. A given representation language is specified in ARLO by a collection of structures describing how its descriptions are interpreted, defaulted, and verified. This high level description is compiled into LISP code and ARLO structures whose interpretation fullfills the specified semantics of the language. In addition, ARLO itself --- as a language for expressing and compiling partial and complete language specifications --- is described and interpreted in the same manner as the language it describes and implements. This self description can be extended or modified to expand or alter the expressive power of ARLO's initial configuration. Languages which describe themselves --- like ARLO --- provide powerful mediums for systems which perform automatic self-modification, optimization, debugging, or documentation. AI systems implemented in such a self-descriptive language can reflect on their own capabilities, applying general problem solving and learning strategies to enlarge or correct them.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA174567
Entities
People
- Kenneth W. Haase Jr
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology