Both reactive and deliberative qualities are essential for a good action selection mechanism. We present a model that embodies
a hybrid of two very different neural network architectures inside an animat: one that controls their high level deliberative
behaviours, such as the selection of sub-goals, and one that provides reactive and navigational capabilities. Animats using
this model are evolved in novel and dynamic environments, on complex tasks requiring deliberative behaviours: tasks that cannot
be solved by reactive mechanisms alone and which would traditionally have their solutions formulated in terms of search-based
planning. Significantly, no a priori information is given to the animats, making explicit forward search through state transitions
impossible. The complexity of the problem means that animats must first learn to solve sub-goals without receiving any reward.
Animats are shown increasingly complex versions of the task, with the results demonstrating, for the first time, incremental
neuro-evolutionary learning on such tasks.
Keywords Artificial Life - Neural Networks - Incremental Evolution - Reactive and Deliberative Systems - Novel and Dynamic Environments