Real-time reasoning with PROLOG

In this paper, we present a description of a Prolog implementation of a system (RTR) for “real-time reasoning”, similar to those discussed by Perlis (see [3] and [6]). The reasoning to be performed by the system is “real-time” in two different senses. First, reasoning is considered to be a continuing process rather than an isolated calculation of the consequences of an axiom set, with such a process being analogous to that required to create a computer or robotic system with some autonomy. Secondly, our system addresses the combinatorial problems inherent in theorem proving by applying inference rules to only a small working set of observations and axioms. Such a system provides one approach to non-monotonic reasoning, allowing the derivation of inconsistent facts within the working set and then providing a means of resolving the conflict.