Knowledge Level Learning in Soar

In this article we demonstrate how knowledge level learning can be performed within the Soar architecture. That is, we demonstrate how Soar can acquire new knowledge that is not deductively implied by its existing knowledge. This demonstration employs Soar's chunking mechanism — a mechanism which acquires new productions from goalbased experience — as its only learning mechanism. Chunking has previously been demonstrated to be a useful symbol level learning mechanism, able to speed up the performance of existing systems, but this is the first demonstration of its ability to perform knowledge level learning. Two simple declarative-memory tasks are employed for this demonstration: recognition and recall. This research was sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DOD) under contract N00039-86-C-0133 and by the Sloan Foundation. Computer facilities were partially provided by NIH grant RR-00785 to Sumex-Aim. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the US Government, the Sloan Foundation, or the National Institutes of Health. Knowledge Level Learning in Soar Page 1 of 13 Knowledge Level Learning in Soar