Mycroft: A framework for qualitative reasoning

In this paper, three recent qualitative simulators within the constraint based ontology (epitomized by QSIM) are reviewed. The best features from these are incorporated in a new qualitative reasoning framework: Mycroft. This framework permits the results of different approaches to qualitative reasoning to be explored within a single environment. The argument focuses on the semi-constructive and constructive aspects of Mycroft. The results of these simulation methods are compared with each other and with FuSim. It is found that the semi-constructive version of Mycroft yields the same results as FuSim but in a more efficient manner. The constructive version is found to give a reduced behaviour tree in some cases though in others it fails to give any tree. The reasons for these findings are explored and extensions to theframework suggested.