Building virtual behaviors from partially controllable available behaviors in nondeterministic environments

The composition problem involves how to coordinate a set of available modules (e.g., concrete devices installed in a smart house, such as video cameras, lights, blinds, etc.) so as to implement a desired but non-existent target complex component (e.g., a complex entertainment house system). This paper summarizes the results in (De Giacomo, Patrizi, and Sardina 2013), by formally defining the problem within an AI context, characterizing its complexity, and identifying effective techniques to solve it. Related results are also briefly discussed.