Prolog Shortest Path using list of lists - prolog

Okay, so I've been trying to teach myself Prolog recently, and am having a hard time wrapping my head around finding a "Shortest Path" between two (defined) elements in a list of lists. It may not be the most effective way of representing a Grid or finding a Shortest Path, but I'd like to try it this way.
For example:
[[x,x,x,x,x,x,x],
[x,1,o,o,o,o,x],
[x,-,-,-,o,-,x],
[x,-,-,o,o,-,x],
[x,o,o,o,o,2,x],
[x,o,-,-,o,o,x],
[x,x,x,x,x,x,x]]
A few assumptions I can make (either given or based on checking before path-finding):
The grid is square
Their will always exist a path from 1 to 2
'1' can pass through anything except '-' (walls) or 'x' (borders)
The goal is for '1' to find a shortest path to '2'.
In the instance of:
[[x,x,x,x,x,x,x],
[x,o,o,1,o,o,x],
[x,-,o,o,o,-,x],
[x,-,o,-,o,-,x],
[x,o,o,2,o,o,x],
[x,o,-,-,-,o,x],
[x,x,x,x,x,x,x]]
Notice, there are two "Shortest paths":
[d,l,d,d,r]
and
[d,r,d,d,l]
In Prolog, I'm trying to make the function (if that's the proper name):
shortestPath(Grid,Path)
I've made a function to find elements '1' and '2', and a function that verifies that the grid is valid, but I can't even begin how to start constructing a function to find a shortest path from '1' to '2'.
Given a defined Grid, I'd like the output of Path to be the shortest path. Or, given a defined Grid AND a defined Path, I'd like to check if it's indeed a shortest path.
Help would be much appreciated! If I missed anything, or was unclear, let me know!

not optimized solution
shortestPath(G, S) :-
findall(L-P, (findPath(G,P), length(P,L)), All),
keysort(All, [_-S|_]).
findPath(G, Path) :-
pos(G, (Rs,Cs), 1),
findPath(G, [(Rs,Cs)], [], Path).
findPath(G, [Act|Rest], Trail, Path) :-
move(Act,Next,Move),
pos(G, Next, Elem),
( Elem == 2
-> reverse([Move|Trail], Path)
; Elem == o
-> \+ memberchk(Next, Rest),
findPath(G, [Next,Act|Rest], [Move|Trail], Path)
).
move((R,C), (R1,C1), M) :-
R1 is R-1, C1 is C , M = u;
R1 is R , C1 is C-1, M = l;
R1 is R+1, C1 is C , M = d;
R1 is R , C1 is C+1, M = r.
pos(G, (R,C), E) :- nth1(R, G, Row), nth1(C, Row, E).
grid(1,
[[x,x,x,x,x,x,x],
[x,1,o,o,o,o,x],
[x,-,-,-,o,-,x],
[x,-,-,o,o,-,x],
[x,o,o,o,o,2,x],
[x,o,-,-,o,o,x],
[x,x,x,x,x,x,x]]).
grid(2,
[[x,x,x,x,x,x,x],
[x,o,o,1,o,o,x],
[x,-,o,o,o,-,x],
[x,-,o,-,o,-,x],
[x,o,o,2,o,o,x],
[x,o,-,-,-,o,x],
[x,x,x,x,x,x,x]]).

Related

Prolog, give a path from point x to the goal

This is my code:
% A The first link as a predicate
link(1,2).
link(2,3).
link(3,4).
link(3,6).
link(6,7).
link(6,5).
So what we did with the path predicate is check from a given starting point check if there exists a path from that point to the goal (which is defined at the top). This gives the correct outcome for all possible values.
What I need to do now is, I know there is a valid path from 1 to the goal, my path() predicate told me so, now i need to return a list of nodes that shows the that path to the goal, so with using path(L), path([2,3,6,5]) is true.
If I understand your problem statement, you
Have a directed graph (a digraph) defined by link(From,To).
Wish to be able to traverse that digraph from some origin node to some destination node and identify the path[s] between the 2 nodes.
This is a pretty straightforward problem that doesn't require assert/1 or retract/1.
A common pattern in Prolog programming is the use of helper predicates that carry extra arguments that track the persistent state required to accomplish the task at hand.
Graph traversal, as an algorithm, is pretty easy (and nicely recursive):
You can travel from node A to node B if nodes A and B are directly connected, or
You can travel from node A to node B if node A is connected to some other node X such that you can travel from node X to node B.
The trick here is that you need to track what nodes you've visited (and their order), and you'd want to do that anyway, so that you can detect cycles in the graph. Trying to traverse a cyclic graph like this::
a → b → c → b
leads to infinite recursion unless you check to see whether or not you've already visited node b.
That leads pretty direction to an implementation like this:
A traverse/3 predicate, traverse(Origin, Destination,Path), and,
A traverse/4 helper predicate, traverse(Origin,Destination,Visited,Path).
You can fiddle with it at https://swish.swi-prolog.org/p/oZUomEcK.pl
link(1,2).
link(2,3).
link(3,4).
link(3,6).
link(6,7).
link(6,5).
% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
%
% traverse( Origin, Destination, ReversePath )
%
% traverse/3 traverses a directed graph defined by link(From,To).
% The path taken is listed in reverse order:
% [Destination, N3, N2, N1 , Origin]
%
% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
traverse(A,B,P) :- % to traverse a graph
traverse(A,B, [], P) % - invoke the helper, seeding the visited list with the empty list
. %
% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
% traverse( Origin, Destination, Visited, ReversePath )
% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
traverse( A , B , V , [B,A|V] ) :- % Traversal of a graph from A to B,
link(A,B) % - succeeds if there exists an edge between A and B.
. %
traverse( A , B , V , P ) :- % otherwise, we can get from A to B if...
link(A,X) , % - an edge exists between A and some node X
\+ member(X,V) , % - that we have not yet visited,
traverse(X,B,[A|V],P) % - and we can get from X to B (adding A to the list of visited nodes
. %
Once you have that, invoking traverse/3 with all arguments unbound
?- traverse(A,B,P) .
results in finding all paths in the graph via backtracking.
If you want to know all the paths in the graph, beginning at a specific origin node, invoke it with the origin argument bound:
?- traverse(1,B,P) .
And if you want to know if two specific nodes are connected, invoke it with both origin and destination bound:
?- traverse(1,5,P) .
Note: because we're building the list of visited nodes by prepending them to the list of visited nodes, the path thus build is in reverse (destination-first) order. If you want the path in proper (origin-first) order, just use reverse/2 in the main predicate:
traverse(A,B,P) :- traverse(A,B, [], RP ), reverse(RP,P) .

How to find direct path between two nodes in a graph in Prolog?

I am new to Prolog and I'm trying to write a predicate that takes two nodes and a graph as it's arguments and then checks whether there exists a direct path between these two nodes in the graph.
For example, there is a direct path from n(1) to n(4) in the graph below, that goes from n(1)
to n(3) and from n(3) to n(4):
g[n(1), n(4), g([n(1), n(2), n(3), n(4), n(5), n(6), n(7), n(8)],
[e(n(1), n(2)), e(n(1), n(3)), e(n(3), n(4)), e(n(4), n(5)), e(n(5), n(6)), e(n(5), n(7)), e(n(7), n(8))]))
In the end
?− dirPath(n(1), n(4), g[n(1), n(4), g([n(1), n(2), n(3), n(4), n(5), n(6), n(7), n(8)],
[e(n(1), n(2)), e(n(1), n(3)), e(n(3), n(4)), e(n(4), n(5)), e(n(5), n(6)), e(n(5), n(7)), e(n(7), n(8))]))
should return true.
My tentative code looks like this:
edge(n(1),n(2)).
edge(n(1),n(3)).
edge(n(3),n(4)).
edge(n(4),n(5)).
edge(n(5),n(6)).
edge(n(5),n(7)).
edge(n(7),n(8)).
dirPath(A,B, g) :- % - graph argument still missing.
move(A,B,[]) % - two nodes are connected,
. % - if one can move from one to the other,
move(A,B,V) :- % - and one can move from A to B
edge(A,X) , % - if A is connected to X, and
not(member(X,V)) , % - one hasn't yet reached X, and
( % - either
B = X % - X is the desired destination
; % OR
move(X,B,[A|V]) % - one can get to that destination from X
)
.
My main problem is that I can't figure out how make my dirPath predicate accepts a graph, as it's argument.
First of all, this:
g[n(1), n(4), g([n(1), n(2), n(3), n(4), n(5), n(6), n(7), n(8)],
[e(n(1), n(2)), e(n(1), n(3)), e(n(3), n(4)), e(n(4), n(5)), e(n(5), n(6)), e(n(5), n(7)), e(n(7), n(8))]))
is not valid syntax. A term cannot begin g[.... This should probably be g([... instead.
Second, the representation is not entirely intuitive. What are the special roles of n(1) and n(4)? Why is there an inner g(...) term?
Nevertheless, it's clear which part is supposed to be the edges. Let's define a predicate to access just the edges:
graph_edges(Graph, Edges) :-
Graph = g(_Something, _SomethingElse, g(_Nodes, Edges)).
Selection of one edge from the graph is then:
graph_edge(Graph, Edge) :-
graph_edges(Graph, Edges),
member(Edge, Edges).
You can then incorporate this into your predicate like this:
dirPath(A, B, Graph) :-
move(A, B, Graph, []).
move(A, B, Graph, Vs) :-
graph_edge(Graph, e(A, X)),
...
Note that I changed your variable V to Vs. Single-letter variable names are often not great in general (From and To would in my opinion be clearer than A and B). Single-letter variable names for lists are especially unusual; the common convention is to add s (as in the English plural, visited nodes) for lists. For graphs this is especially recommended, since a simple V could very well be interpreted as a single "vertex".
(Solution not tested.)

prolog depth first iterative deepening

I am trying to implement a depth first iterative deepening search of a state space graph.
I have a graph with three vertices and their are two activating edges and two inhibition edges. Each node has a binary value, collectively this is the state of the graph. The graph can transition to a new state by seeing if one of the nodes is above a threshold or below a threshold (calculated from summing all the incoming nodes). At most one node will change at each transition. As their are three nodes, their are three state transition edges leaving each state in the state transition graph.
I think my state_change/3 works correctly, for instance I can query:
?-g_s_s(0,1,1,Begin),node(Arc),state_change(g_s(Begin),Second,Arc).
And it gives me the three correct answers:
Begin = [node(v1, 0), node(v2, 1), node(v3, 1)],
Arc = v1,
Second = g_s([node(v1, 1), node(v2, 1), node(v3, 1)]) ;
Begin = [node(v1, 0), node(v2, 1), node(v3, 1)],
Arc = v2,
Second = g_s([node(v1, 0), node(v2, 0), node(v3, 1)]) ;
Begin = [node(v1, 0), node(v2, 1), node(v3, 1)],
Arc = v3,
Second = g_s([node(v1, 0), node(v2, 1), node(v3, 0)])
I am trying to use the predicate id_path given in Bratkos Prolog for A.I book, the solution to question 11.3 but I am having problems using/adapting it. I want to create a path from a start node to the other nodes, with out getting into loops- I don't want it to have repeat elements or to get stuck when a path does not exist. I want the path to say the starting state, then a succession of states you can visit from the start state. If there is a self loop I want this to be included once for every way of getting there. Ie I want to keep track of the way that I got to the state space and make this unique not just that the state space is unique in the path.
For instance from 011 I want all three paths of length one to be found with the arcs.
?-id_path(g_s([node(v1,0),node(v2,1),node(v3,1)],Last,[Temp],Path).
Path = [[node(v1,0),node(v2,1),node(v3,1)],to([node(v1,1),node(v2,1),node(v3,1)],v1)];
Path =[[node(v1,0),node(v2,1),node(v3,1)], to([node(v1,0),node(v2,0),node(v3,1)],v2)];
Path=[[node(v1,0),node(v2,1),node(v3,1)],to([node(v1,1),node(v2,1),node(v3,0)],v3)];
and then at the next level all the paths with three nodes, showing the two arcs it needs to get to the nodes, then at the next level all the paths with fours nodes showing the three arcs it needs etc
I have also put my code in SWISH if this is helpful? (Trying this for the first time?!)
http://pengines.swi-prolog.org/apps/swish/p/HxBzEwLb.pl#&togetherjs=xydMBkFjQR
a(v1,v3). %a activating edge
a(v3,v1).
i(v1,v2). %a inhibition edge
i(v2,v3).
nodes([v1,v2,v3]).
node(X):- nodes(List),member(X,List). %to retrieve a node in graph a) or an arc in graph b)
g_s_s(X,Y,Z,g_s([node(v1,X),node(v2,Y),node(v3,Z)])). %graph_state_simple - I use this to simply set a starting graph state.
sum_list([], 0).
sum_list([H|T], Sum) :-
sum_list(T, Rest),
Sum is H + Rest.
invert(1,0).
invert(0,1).
state_of_node(Node,g_s(List),State):-
member(node(Node,State),List).
%all activating nodes in a graph state for a node
all_a(Node,As,Ss,g_s(NodeList)):-
findall(A, a(A,Node),As),
findall(S,(member(M,As),member(node(M,S),NodeList)),Ss).
%all inhibiting nodes in a graph state for a node
all_i(Node,Is,Ss,g_s(NodeList)):-
findall(I, i(I,Node),Is),
findall(S,(member(M,Is),member(node(M,S),NodeList)),Ss).
%sum of activating nodes of a node in a state
sum_a(Node,g_s(NodeList),Sum):-
all_a(Node,_As,Ss,g_s(NodeList)),
sum_list(Ss,Sum).
%sum of inhibiting nodes of a node in a state
sum_i(Node,g_s(NodeList),Sum):-
all_i(Node,_Is,Ss,g_s(NodeList)),
sum_list(Ss,Sum).
above_threshold(Threshold,Node,g_s(NodeList),TrueFalse):-
sum_a(Node,g_s(NodeList),Sum_A),
sum_i(Node,g_s(NodeList),Sum_I),
TrueFalse = true,
Threshold < (Sum_A-Sum_I),
!.
above_threshold(Threshold,Node,g_s(NodeList),TrueFalse):-
sum_a(Node,g_s(NodeList),Sum_A),
sum_i(Node,g_s(NodeList),Sum_I),
TrueFalse = false,
Threshold >= (Sum_A-Sum_I).
%arc needs to be instantiated
state_change(g_s(State1),g_s(State1),Arc):-
above_threshold(0,Arc,g_s(State1),true),
state_of_node(Arc,g_s(State1),1).
state_change(g_s(State1),g_s(State2),Arc):-
above_threshold(0,Arc,g_s(State1),false),
state_of_node(Arc,g_s(State1),1),
my_map(State1,State2,Arc).
state_change(g_s(State1),g_s(State2),Arc):-
above_threshold(0,Arc,g_s(State1),true),
state_of_node(Arc,g_s(State1),0),
my_map(State1,State2,Arc).
state_change(g_s(State1),g_s(State1),Arc):-
above_threshold(0,Arc,g_s(State1),false),
state_of_node(Arc,g_s(State1),0).
%
my_map([],[],_).
my_map([X|T],[Y|L],Arc):-
X= node(Node,Value1),
Node =Arc,
invert(Value1,Value2),
Y = node(Node,Value2),
my_map(T,L,Arc).
my_map([X|T],[Y|L],Arc):-
X= node(Node,Value1),
Node \= Arc,
Y = node(Node,Value1),
my_map(T,L,Arc).
%this is the def in the book which I can not adapt.
path(Begin,Begin,[start(Begin)]).
path(First, Last,[First,Second|Rest]):-
state_change(First,Second,Arc),
path(Second,Last,[Second|Rest]).
%this is the def in the book which I can not adapt.
id_path(First,Last,Template,Path):-
Path = Template,
path(First,Last,Path)
; copy_term(Template,P),
path(First,_,P),
!,
id_path(First,Last,[_|Template],Path).
Since the state space is finite, there will be only finitely many minimal loops or terminal paths. The following options come to mind to represent minimal loops in a graph.
- Rational Terms: Some Prolog systems support rational terms, so a repeating path [0,1,2,2,2,...] can be represented as X = [0,1|Y], Y=[2|Y].
- Non-Rational Terms: You could of course represent a repeating path also as a pair. The previous example would then be ([0,1], [2]).
Detecting a loop pattern and find not only whether something is loop, but also the part that is looping, can be archived by the following code. The append predicate will do the search:
?- append(X, [2|Y], [0,1,2,3]).
X = [0, 1],
Y = [3]
So we know that when we have already found a path [0,1,2,3], and when we see a node 2, that we have found a loop, and we can expressed the found loop with an Omega word as follows [0,1] [2,3]ω. Here is a simple backtracking code:
path(P, P).
path((C,[]), P) :-
last(C, X), edge(X, Y),
extend(C, Y, A, B), path((A,B), P).
extend(C, Y, A, [Y|B]) :-
append(A, [Y|B], C), !.
extend(C, Y, A, []) :-
append(C, [Y], A).
Here is an example run:
?- path(([s(0,1,1)],[]), X).
X = ([s(0,1,1)],[]) ;
X = ([s(0,1,1),s(0,1,0)],[]) ;
X = ([s(0,1,1),s(0,1,0),s(0,0,0)],[]) ;
X = ([s(0,1,1),s(0,1,0)],[s(0,0,0)]) ;
X = ([s(0,1,1)],[s(0,1,0)]) ;
X = ([s(0,1,1),s(1,1,1)],[]) ;
...

Prolog confusion. Can someone explain how minimal works?

I understand the code up to minimal but after that there's too many variables and I keep losing track of what each one is doing. If someone could explain it or do it with renamed variables that would be an amazing help, as I think this code will probably come up on my Christmas exam and I want to be able to explain what's going on.
road(a, b, 1).
road(b, c, 1).
road(a, c, 13).
road(d, a, 1).
/*Getting from A to B through a list of places R in N kms*/
route(A,B,R,N) :- travel(A,B,[A],Q,N), reverse(Q,R).
/*Travelling from A to B through P a list of towns B|P of distance L*/
travel(A,B,P,[B|P],Dist) :- road(A,B,Dist).
/*Travelling from A to B through Visited, on your Route R with distance Distance*/
/*Find if there is a road from A to b and store the distance. Make sure C is not equal to B*/
travel(A,B,Visited,R,Distance) :-
road(A,C,Dist), C \== B,
/*Make sure C is not in Visited to avoid infinite loop,
use recursion to find the full route and distance */
\+member(C,Visited), travel(C,B,[C|Visited],R,Dist1), Distance is Dist + Dist1.
/*Find the shortest route from A to B*/
shortest(A,B,R,N) :-
setof([Route,Dist],route(A,B,Route,Dist),Set),
Set = [_|_], minimal(Set,[R,N]).
minimal([F|R],M) :- min(R,F,M).
/*The shortest path*/
min([],M,M).
min([[P,L]|R],[_,M],Min):- L < M, !, min(R,[P,L],Min).
min([_|R],M,Min) :- min(R,M,Min).
since setof gives a sorted list of solutions, it's sufficient to produce solutions of appropriate 'shape', placing first the value you want to minimize: try
shortest(A,B,R,N) :-
setof((Dist,Route), route(A,B,Route,Dist), [(N,R)|_]).

Solve Cannibals/Missionaries using breadth-first search (BFS) in Prolog?

I am working on solving the classic Missionaries(M) and Cannibals(C) problem, the start state is 3 M and 3 C on the left bank and the goal state is 3M, 3C on the right bank. I have complete the basic function in my program and I need to implemet the search-strategy such as BFS and DFS.
Basically my code is learn from the Internet. So far I can successfuly run the program with DFS method, but I try to run with BFS it always return false. This is my very first SWI-Prolog program, I can not find where is the problem of my code.
Here is part of my code, hope you can help me find the problem of it
solve2 :-
bfs([[[3,3,left]]],[0,0,right],[[3,3,left]],Solution),
printSolution(Solution).
bfs([[[A,B,C]]],[A,B,C],_,[]).
bfs([[[A,B,C]|Visisted]|RestPaths],[D,E,F],Visisted,Moves) :-
findall([[I,J,K],[A,B,C]|Visited]),
(
move([A,B,C],[I,J,K],Description),
safe([I,J,K]),
not(member([I,J,K],Visited)
),
NewPaths
),
append(RestPaths,NewPaths,CurrentPaths),
bfs(CurrentPaths,[D,E,F],[[I,J,K]|Visisted],MoreMoves),
Moves = [ [[A,B,C],[I,J,K],Description] | MoreMoves ].
move([A,B,left],[A1,B,right],'One missionary cross river') :-
A > 0, A1 is A - 1.
% Go this state if left M > 0. New left M is M-1
.
.
.
.
.
safe([A,B,_]) :-
(B =< A ; A = 0),
A1 is 3-A, B1 is 3-B,
(B1 =< A1; A1 =0).
I use findall to find all possible path before go to next level. Only the one pass the safe() will be consider as possible next state. The state will not use if it already exist. Since my program can run with DFS so I think there is nothing wrong with move() and safe() predicate. My BFS predicate is changing base on my DFS code, but its not work.
There is a very simple way to turn a depth-first search program into a breadth-first one, provided the depth-first search is directly mapped to Prolog's search. This technique is called iterative deepening.
Simply add an additional argument to ensure that the search will only go N steps deep.
So a dfs-version:
dfs(State) :-
final(State).
dfs(State1) :-
state_transition(State1, State2),
dfs(State2).
Is transformed into a bfs by adding an argument for the depth. E.g. by using successor-arithmetics:
bfs(State, _) :-
final(State).
bfs(State1, s(X)) :-
state_transition(State1, State2),
bfs(State2, X).
A goal bfs(State,s(s(s(0)))) will now find all derivations requiring 3 or less steps. You still can perform dfs! Simply use bfs(State,X).
To find all derivations use natural_number(X), bfs(State,X).
Often it is useful to use a list instead of the s(X)-number. This list might contain all intermediary states or the particular transitions performed.
You might hesitate to use this technique, because it seems to recompute a lot of intermediary states ("repeatedly expanded states"). After all, first it searches all paths with one step, then, at most two steps, then, at most three steps... However, if your problem is a search problem, the branching factor here hidden within state_transition/2 will mitigate that overhead. To see this, consider a branching factor of 2: We only will have an overhead of a factor of two! Often, there are easy ways to regain that factor of two: E.g., by speeding up state_transition/2 or final/1.
But the biggest advantage is that it does not consume a lot of space - in contrast to naive dfs.
The Logtalk distribution includes an example, "searching", which implements a framework for state space searching:
https://github.com/LogtalkDotOrg/logtalk3/tree/master/examples/searching
The "classical" problems are included (farmer, missionaries and cannibals, puzzle 8, bridge, water jugs, etc). Some of the search algorithms are adapted (with permission) from Ivan Bratko's book "Prolog programming for artificial intelligence". The example also includes a performance monitor that can give you some basic stats on the performance of a search method (e.g. branching factors and number of state transitions). The framework is easy to extend, both for new problems and new search methods.
If anyone still interested in this for a python solution please find the following.
For the simplification, count of Missionaries and Cannibals on left is only taken to the consideration.
This is the solution tree.
#M #missionaries in left
#C #cannibals in left
# B=1left
# B=0right
def is_valid(state):
if(state[0]>3 or state[1]>3 or state[2]>1 or state[0]<0 or state[1]<0 or state[2]<0 or (0<state[0]<state[1]) or (0<(3-state[0])<(3-state[1]))):
return False
else:
return True
def generate_next_states(M,C,B):
moves = [[1, 0, 1], [0, 1, 1], [2, 0, 1], [0, 2, 1], [1, 1, 1]]
valid_states = []
for each in moves:
if(B==1):next_state = [x1 - x2 for (x1, x2) in zip([M, C, B], each)]
else:next_state = [x1 + x2 for (x1, x2) in zip([M, C, B], each)]
if (is_valid(next_state)):
# print(next_state)
valid_states.append(next_state)
return valid_states
solutions = []
def find_sol(M,C,B,visited):
if([M,C,B]==[0,0,0]):#everyne crossed successfully
# print("Solution reached, steps: ",visited+[[0,0,0]])
solutions.append(visited+[[0,0,0]])
return True
elif([M,C,B] in visited):#prevent looping
return False
else:
visited.append([M,C,B])
if(B==1):#boat is in left
for each_s in generate_next_states(M,C,B):
find_sol(each_s[0],each_s[1],each_s[2],visited[:])
else:#boat in in right
for each_s in generate_next_states(M,C,B):
find_sol(each_s[0],each_s[1],each_s[2],visited[:])
find_sol(3,3,1,[])
solutions.sort()
for each_sol in solutions:
print(each_sol)
Please refer to this gist to see a possible solution, maybe helpful to your problem.
Gist: solve Missionaries and cannibals in Prolog
I've solved with depth-first and then with breadth-first, attempting to clearly separate the reusable part from the state search algorithm:
miss_cann_dfs :-
initial(I),
solve_dfs(I, [I], Path),
maplist(writeln, Path), nl.
solve_dfs(S, RPath, Path) :-
final(S),
reverse(RPath, Path).
solve_dfs(S, SoFar, Path) :-
move(S, T),
\+ memberchk(T, SoFar),
solve_dfs(T, [T|SoFar], Path).
miss_cann_bfs :-
initial(I),
solve_bfs([[I]], Path),
maplist(writeln, Path), nl.
solve_bfs(Paths, Path) :-
extend(Paths, Extended),
( member(RPath, Extended),
RPath = [H|_],
final(H),
reverse(RPath, Path)
; solve_bfs(Extended, Path)
).
extend(Paths, Extended) :-
findall([Q,H|R],
( member([H|R], Paths),
move(H, Q),
\+ member(Q, R)
), Extended),
Extended \= [].
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
% problem representation
% independent from search method
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
initial((3,3, >, 0,0)).
final((0,0, <, 3,3)).
% apply a *valid* move
move((M1i,C1i, Bi, M2i,C2i), (M1f,C1f, Bf, M2f,C2f)) :-
direction(Bi, F1, F2, Bf),
who_move(MM, CM),
M1f is M1i + MM * F1, M1f >= 0,
C1f is C1i + CM * F1, C1f >= 0,
( M1f >= C1f ; M1f == 0 ),
M2f is M2i + MM * F2, M2f >= 0,
C2f is C2i + CM * F2, C2f >= 0,
( M2f >= C2f ; M2f == 0 ).
direction(>, -1, +1, <).
direction(<, +1, -1, >).
% valid placements on boat
who_move(M, C) :-
M = 2, C = 0 ;
M = 1, C = 0 ;
M = 1, C = 1 ;
M = 0, C = 2 ;
M = 0, C = 1 .
I suggest you to structure your code in a similar way, with a predicate similar to extend/2, that make clear when to stop the search.
If your Prolog system has a forward chainer you can also solve
the problem by modelling it via forward chaining rules. Here
is an example how to solve a water jug problem in Jekejeke Minlog.
The state is represented by a predicate state/2.
You first give a rule that filters duplicates as follows. The
rule says that an incoming state/2 fact should be removed,
if it is already in the forward store:
% avoid duplicate state
unit &:- &- state(X,Y) && state(X,Y), !.
Then you give rules that state that search need not be continued
when a final state is reached. In the present example we check
that one of the vessels contains 1 liter of water:
% halt for final states
unit &:- state(_,1), !.
unit &:- state(1,_), !.
As a next step one models the state transitions as forward chaining
rules. This is straight forward. We model emptying, filling and pouring
of vessels:
% emptying a vessel
state(0,X) &:- state(_,X).
state(X,0) &:- state(X,_).
% filling a vessel
state(5,X) &:- state(_,X).
state(X,7) &:- state(X,_).
% pouring water from one vessel to the other vessel
state(Z,T) &:- state(X,Y), Z is min(5,X+Y), T is max(0,X+Y-5).
state(T,Z) &:- state(X,Y), Z is min(7,X+Y), T is max(0,X+Y-7).
We can now use the forward chaining engine to do the job for us. It
will not do iterative deeping and it will also not do breadth first.
It will just do unit resolution by a strategy that is greedy for the
given fact and the process only completes, since the state space
is finite. Here is the result:
?- post(state(0,0)), posted.
state(0, 0).
state(5, 0).
state(5, 7).
state(0, 7).
Etc..
The approach will tell you whether there is a solution, but not explain
the solution. One approach to make it explainable is to use a fact
state/4 instead of a fact state/2. The last two arguments are used for
a list of actions and for the length of the list.
The rule that avoids duplicates is then changed for a rule that picks
the smallest solution. It reads as follows:
% choose shorter path
unit &:- &- state(X,Y,_,N) && state(X,Y,_,M), M<N, !.
unit &:- state(X,Y,_,N) && &- state(X,Y,_,M), N<M.
We then get:
?- post(state(0,0,[],0)), posted.
state(0, 0, [], 0).
state(5, 0, [fl], 1).
state(5, 7, [fr,fl], 2).
state(0, 5, [plr,fl], 2).
Etc..
With a little helper predicate we can force an explanation of
the actions that lead to a path:
?- post(state(0,0,[],0)), state(1,7,L,_), explain(L).
0-0
fill left vessel
5-0
pour left vessel into right vessel
0-5
fill left vessel
5-5
pour left vessel into right vessel
3-7
empty right vessel
3-0
pour left vessel into right vessel
0-3
fill left vessel
5-3
pour left vessel into right vessel
1-7
Bye
Source Code: Water Jug State
http://www.xlog.ch/jekejeke/forward/jugs3.p
Source Code: Water Jug State and Path
http://www.xlog.ch/jekejeke/forward/jugs3path.p

Resources