A meta-planning model for diminishing resource problems

We present a planning and meta-planning model for an important sub-class of the general planning problem. There is a fixed amount of initial resource which monotonically diminishes throughout the planning process. Assuming all subgoals must be achieved, we have created a commonsense meta-planning methodology based on two policies, graceful retreat and least impact, which have the spirit of cooperation among subgoals in making commitments. Graceful retreat allows the most critical subgoal to be achieved first, at the expense of taking some resource potentially useful to some less critical subgoals. Least impact selects the subplan, to achieve that critical subgoal, which uses resource judged least critical to as yet unachieved subgoals.