“Neuro-Symbolic Path Planning from Natural Language Inputs: A Promising Approach”

“Neuro-Symbolic Path Planning from Natural Language Inputs: A Promising Approach”

arXiv:2409.06859v1 Announce Type: new
Abstract: Path planners that can interpret free-form natural language instructions hold promise to automate a wide range of robotics applications. These planners simplify user interactions and enable intuitive control over complex semi-autonomous systems. While existing symbolic approaches offer guarantees on the correctness and efficiency, they struggle to parse free-form natural language inputs. Conversely, neural approaches based on pre-trained Large Language Models (LLMs) can manage natural language inputs but lack performance guarantees. In this paper, we propose a neuro-symbolic framework for path planning from natural language inputs called NSP. The framework leverages the neural reasoning abilities of LLMs to i) craft symbolic representations of the environment and ii) a symbolic path planning algorithm. Next, a solution to the path planning problem is obtained by executing the algorithm on the environment representation. The framework uses a feedback loop from the symbolic execution environment to the neural generation process to self-correct syntax errors and satisfy execution time constraints. We evaluate our neuro-symbolic approach using a benchmark suite with 1500 path-planning problems. The experimental evaluation shows that our neuro-symbolic approach produces 90.1% valid paths that are on average 19-77% shorter than state-of-the-art neural approaches.

The Future of Robotics: Neuro-Symbolic Path Planning with Natural Language

Path planning is a critical task in robotics that involves finding the optimal path for a robot to navigate its environment. Traditionally, path planning algorithms have relied on predefined rules and symbolic representations of the environment. However, these approaches struggle to interpret free-form natural language instructions, which limits their usability in real-world applications.

On the other hand, neural approaches based on Large Language Models (LLMs) have shown promise in understanding natural language inputs. These models can handle complex sentence structures and generate coherent responses. However, they lack performance guarantees and may not always produce accurate results.

In this groundbreaking paper, the authors propose a neuro-symbolic framework called NSP for path planning from natural language inputs. This framework combines the best of both worlds by leveraging the neural reasoning abilities of LLMs and the guarantees provided by symbolic approaches.

The NSP framework consists of two main components:

  1. Neural Reasoning: The LLMs are used to convert natural language instructions into symbolic representations of the environment. This allows the algorithm to understand and reason about the spatial relationships between different objects in the environment.
  2. Symbolic Path Planning: Once the symbolic representation of the environment is obtained, a symbolic path planning algorithm is executed to find the optimal path for the robot. This algorithm takes into account various factors such as obstacles, goal location, and the robot’s capabilities.

One of the key strengths of the NSP framework is its ability to self-correct syntax errors and satisfy execution time constraints. By using a feedback loop from the symbolic execution environment to the neural generation process, the framework can refine its understanding of the natural language instructions and improve the accuracy of the path planning algorithm.

The authors evaluated the NSP framework using a benchmark suite with 1500 path-planning problems. The results were impressive, with the neuro-symbolic approach producing 90.1% valid paths that were on average 19-77% shorter than state-of-the-art neural approaches.

This research highlights the multi-disciplinary nature of robotics and the potential of combining symbolic and neural approaches. By integrating natural language processing, reasoning, and path planning algorithms, the NSP framework opens up new possibilities for intuitive and efficient control of complex semi-autonomous systems.

The implications of this neuro-symbolic approach extend beyond robotics. The ability to interpret free-form natural language instructions could have applications in various domains such as virtual assistants, autonomous vehicles, and smart home systems. As the field evolves, we can expect to see further advancements in the fusion of symbolic and neural techniques, enabling even more sophisticated and intelligent systems.

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The Cabin, Between Tradition and Modernity – Announcements – e-flux

The Cabin, Between Tradition and Modernity – Announcements – e-flux

The Cabin, Between Tradition and Modernity - Announcements - e-flux

Preface:

The cabin, with its humble origins deeply rooted in agricultural and hunter-gatherer societies, has evolved over time to become an architectural project, a building task, and a social phenomenon. In the post-war period, cabins have played a significant role in shaping the landscapes and communities of many nations. As we embrace the diverse narratives attached to cabins, the National Museum is delighted to announce its upcoming conference on this multifaceted subject.

The history of cabins can be traced back to ancient times, where primitive shelters provided refuge from the elements and offered a sense of security to early civilizations. It was during the Industrial Revolution, however, that cabins underwent a transformation, as urbanization burgeoned and people sought respite from the congestion and pollution of cities. The romanticism associated with the countryside, championed by writers like Henry David Thoreau and his seminal work, “Walden,” greatly influenced the perception of cabins as idyllic retreats.

Fast forward to the post-war period, and cabins took on a new significance. The world was recovering from the devastations of war, and architects and designers, eager to rebuild communities, seized the opportunity to harness the potential of cabins. These compact dwellings, often nestled in nature’s embrace, served as symbolic representations of renewal and hope.

While cabins provided solace to individuals seeking respite from the chaotic post-war era, they simultaneously represented broader societal changes. The rise of the middle class, increased leisure time, and the advent of new transportation technologies all contributed to the popularity and accessibility of cabins as weekend getaways. Families, seeking quality time and connection with nature, flocked to cabins and created a parallel culture centered around outdoor activities, communal gatherings, and the simple pleasures of life.

Architecture and design played a pivotal role in shaping the cabin phenomenon. From traditional log cabins to sleek, modernist interpretations, the manner in which cabins were constructed not only reflected the available materials and technologies of the time but also showcased the changing aesthetics and design philosophies. As renowned architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier explored the potential of cabins, their innovative designs became touchstones for future generations.

Today, the legacy of the post-war cabin is evident in the countless retreats and vacation homes dotting the rural landscapes. However, in an era marked by climate change and a reevaluation of our relationship with the environment, the cabin as an architectural project faces new challenges. Sustainability, resilience, and a reimagining of the cabin’s purpose in a rapidly changing world are pressing issues that demand our attention.

This conference, organized by the National Museum, seeks to delve into the multifaceted aspects of the cabin as an architectural project, building task, and social phenomenon in the post-war period. We invite contributions from architects, historians, sociologists, and all those with a passion for cabins and their rich tapestry of stories. Together, we can unravel the intricate threads of the cabin’s past, present, and future, fostering a deeper appreciation and understanding of its enduring allure.

Join us as we embark on this intellectual journey, where we weave the historical and contemporary, the practical and the poetic, to shed light on the cabin’s central role in shaping our built environment, our communities, and our individual quest for meaning.

The National Museum is seeking contributions for a conference on the cabin as architectural project, building task and social phenomenon in the post-war period.

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“Python Framework for Manipulating Neutrosophic Sets”

“Python Framework for Manipulating Neutrosophic Sets”

Introduction

This paper introduces an open source framework developed in Python that offers a comprehensive solution for manipulating symbolic representations of neutrosophic sets over various types of universes. The framework consists of three distinct classes that provide a simple and intuitive way to handle neutrosophic sets and mappings between them. It builds upon previous software solutions proposed by Salama et al., Saranya et al., El-Ghareeb, Topal et al., and Sleem, extending and generalizing their capabilities. The authors provide a detailed description of the code and present numerous examples and use cases to demonstrate the framework’s functionality.

Neutrosophic Sets and Their Manipulation

Neutrosophic sets are a mathematical concept introduced by Florentin Smarandache in the 1990s. They extend the traditional notion of sets by accommodating indeterminate, imprecise, and inconsistent elements. A neutrosophic set is represented by three components: the membership function, the indeterminacy function, and the non-membership function. These components capture the degrees of membership, indeterminacy, and non-membership of elements in a given universe.

The manipulation of neutrosophic sets has attracted significant research interest due to their potential applications in various domains, including decision making, pattern recognition, image processing, and uncertainty modeling. Several software solutions have been proposed in the past to facilitate the handling of neutrosophic sets, but the framework introduced in this paper aims to provide an improved and more versatile approach.

The Proposed Framework

The open source framework presented in this paper is implemented in Python and consists of three classes: SymbolicNeutrosophicSet, SymbolicNeutrosophicMapping, and UniversalSymbolicNeutrosophicSet. These classes are designed to enable efficient manipulation of neutrosophic sets and mappings between them.

The SymbolicNeutrosophicSet class allows the creation of neutrosophic sets with symbolic elements, providing a flexible representation for handling linguistic variables in neutrosophic set operations. The SymbolicNeutrosophicMapping class enables the definition of mappings between two neutrosophic sets, facilitating transformation and comparisons. Lastly, the UniversalSymbolicNeutrosophicSet class generalizes the framework to handle different types of universes, including discrete, continuous, fuzzy, and intuitionistic fuzzy sets.

Advantages and Implications

The framework described in this paper offers several advantages over previous approaches to neutrosophic set manipulation. By providing symbolic representations for neutrosophic elements, it enhances the expressiveness and applicability of the framework, particularly in domains where linguistic variables play a crucial role. The capability to define mappings between neutrosophic sets also expands the toolkit for analyzing and transforming these sets, opening up possibilities for more advanced data processing techniques.

The open source nature of the framework promotes collaboration and sharing of knowledge among researchers and practitioners working with neutrosophic sets. It encourages community-driven development and improvement of the code, fostering innovation and the establishment of best practices. Furthermore, the provision of detailed descriptions, examples, and use cases in the paper assists users in understanding and implementing the framework effectively.

Future Directions

The presented framework lays a solid foundation for further advancements in the field of neutrosophic set manipulation. Future research can focus on expanding the framework’s capabilities to handle larger and more complex datasets. Moreover, there is potential for integrating machine learning techniques with the framework to enhance the predictive power and decision-making abilities of neutrosophic set-based models.

Additionally, efforts can be directed towards developing user-friendly interfaces and visualization tools that simplify the interaction with the framework. Such interfaces would enable users to explore the properties of neutrosophic sets and understand the implications of their decisions more intuitively.

In conclusion, the framework presented in this paper addresses the need for an open source solution to efficiently manipulate neutrosophic sets. Its ability to handle symbolic representations, define mappings, and accommodate various types of universes makes it a valuable tool for researchers and practitioners working with neutrosophic sets. With the support of a collaborative community, the framework holds promise for further advancements in this field and the application of neutrosophic sets in real-world scenarios.

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