Motion planning with temporal-logic specifications: Progress and challenges

Integrating task and motion planning is becoming increasingly important due to the recognition that a growing number of robotics applications in navigation, search-and-rescue missions, manipulation, and medicine involve reasoning with both discrete abstractions and continuous motions. The problem poses unique computational challenges: a vast hybrid discrete/continuous space must be searched while accounting for complex geometries, motion dynamics, collision avoidance, and temporal goals. This paper takes the position that continued progress relies on integrative approaches that bring together techniques from robotics and AI. In this context, the paper examines robot motion planning with temporal-logic specifications and discusses open challenges and directions for future research. The paper aims to promote a continuing dialog between robotics and AI communities.