Goal-Directed Diagnosis - Diagnostic Reasoning in Exploratory-Corrective Domains

In many diagnosis-and-repair domains, diagnostic reasoning cannot be abstracted from repair actions, nor from actions necessary to obtain diagnostic information. In general, in exploratory-corrective domains an agent has to interleave exploratory activity with activity aimed at achieving its goals. In TraumAID 2.0, a consultation system for multiple trauma management, we implement a reasoning framework for such domains which integrates diagnostic reasoning with planning and action. This paper presents Goal-Directed Diagnosis (GDD), a formalization of TraumAID 2.0’s diagnostic reasoning. Taking the view that a diagnosis is only worthwhile to the extent that it can affect repair decisions, GDD uses goals to focus on such. Goals are also useful as a means of communicating with its accompanying planner.