Cognitive Approach in Simulation and Control Z. Avdeeva*, S. Kovriga* * Institute of Control Sciences RAS, Moscow, Russia, 117997, Profsoyuznaya 65, e-mail: max@ipu.ru Abstract: Paper presents brief review of cognitive approach in simulation and control. A class of control problems that are advisable to be solved via cognitive simulation is defined. The basic definitions are made. The method for forming strategy of ill-structured problem solution on the base of cognitive models as applies to socio-economic system is presented. Some trends of further development of cognitive approach are denoted. Copyright ©2008 IFAC. Keywords: cognitive map, decision making, ill-structured system 1. INTRODUCTION The decision theory studying control problems for systems of various nature (technical, biological, socio-economic) has become independent science branch during last decades. The decision theory actively uses methods of mathematics, psychology, informatics. The cognitive simulation is one of the new approaches of modern decision theory. This applies for studying control of ill-structured systems and situations (Narayanan and Armstrong [2005], Chaib-draa [2002], Kim [2000], Huff [1990], Kosko [1986], Sawaragi et al [1986], Heradstvein and Narvesen [1978], Axelrod [1976], Roberts [1976]) that is developed in several scientific subdivisions of Trapeznikov Institute of Control Sciences RAS (Avdeeva et al. [2007], Avdeeva [2006], Avdeeva et al. [2003], Kuznetsov et al. [2006], Kulba et al. [2004], Maximov and Kornoushenko [2001], Maximov [2001], Abramova et al. [1999]). Talking about effective control methods for complex systems, academician I.V. Prangishvili highlighted the cognitive simulation for solving of ill-structured problems that are frequently encountered in control of complex systems among practically justified scientific methods for increasing control effectiveness in organizational, socio-economic and political systems (Prangishvili [2002], Abramova et al. [1999]). The main purpose of this paper is to form complete idea of cognitive approach actively developing now in the control science and interdisciplinary sciences (sociology, economy, etc.), further specification of basic concepts of this approach in control science, as well as defining a class of control problems that are advisable to be solved by cognitive simulation. 2. BRIEF HISTORY OF COGNITIVE APPROACH EVOLUTION Origins of concept “cognitive map” lie in psychology (Tolman [1946]). Studying cognitive maps – subjective representations of spatial organization of outer world – has gained in fundamental importance in the framework of studying features of human perception of his surroundings. The cognitive map is the concept concerning cognitive processes related to gathering, representation, and processing of information on the environment during which an individual is not only a passive observer, but actively interacts with his environment. Forming cognitive maps by an individual is understood as the process consisting of series of psychological transformations. By means of these transformations, an individual gathers, stores, copies, recalls and manipulates information on relative locations and attributes of his spatial surroundings. This process is essential component of decision making for spatial behaviour. The psychological research is directed to a greater extent toward studying these very processes and their influence onto forming certain representations allowing an individual to act and make decisions in his environment. In political science and sociology, the method of cognitive simulation was developed in 1960–1980 in papers of American researcher R. Axelrod and his colleagues from USA and Scandinavia (Heradstvein and Narvesen [1978], Axelrod [1976]). It should be noted that many authors also use the term “cognitive mapping”. In any case, research of problem situation is based on model construction on the base of a cognitive map. The differences consist only in applied modifications of cognitive maps and methods of their formal processing. In political science and sociology, “cognitive map” is not related to spatial orientation. It is interpreted as an individual’s schematic representation of world image fragment relating to concrete problem situation. In this context, cognitive map is the way for representing thought structures directed toward a concrete problem and allowing to simulate politician’s mentation during deliberation of action stimulating identification of further events (Heradstvein and Narvesen [1978]). Construction and analysis of cognitive maps allow revealing causal structure of reasoning presented in political texts and, Proceedings of the 17th World Congress The International Federation of Automatic Control Seoul, Korea, July 6-11, 2008 978-1-1234-7890-2/08/$20.00 © 2008 IFAC 1613 10.3182/20080706-5-KR-1001.3530