Using a trie-based approach for storage and retrieval of goal-oriented plans in an S1/S2 cognitive architecture

Abstract

In the last years, the System 1/System 2 cognitive architecture, proposed by psychologist Daniel Kahneman, raised the interest of many researchers in the field. System 1 is an intuitive, automatic, and fast-thinking system working effortlessly, without conscious effort. System 2 is a deliberate, analytical, and slower-thinking system employing conscious effort and attention. This work proposes an innovative approach that exploits techniques typical of information retrieval (the trie data structure) to efficiently encode the solutions’ repository at the border between System 2 and System 1. This repository stores the solutions (successful plans) the agent has already used and can re-enact to achieve the goals. System 2 conceives new plans and delegates System 1 to execute them. If the plan is successful (and so it becomes a solution), System 1 stores that in the repository to quickly retrieve any solution that may help fulfil the goals deliberated by System 2 in the future.