In an active system, an actor (10-1) is able to effect action (10-4) in a subject system (10-2). The actor (10-1) and the subject system (10-2) exist in an environment (10-3) which can impact the subject system (10-2). Neither the actor (10-1) nor the subject system (10-2) has any control over the environment (10-3). The actor (10-1) includes a model (11-1) and a processor (11-2). The processor (11-2) is guided (11-5) by the model (11-1). The processor (11-2) is arranged to effect action (11-4) in the subject system (10-2). The subject system (10-2) is known (11-3) by the model (11-1). This allows the actor (10-1) to be guided in its action (11-4) on the subject system (10-2) by the model (11-1) of the subject system (10-2). Events can occur in the subject system (10-2) either through the actions of the actor (10-1), as guided by the model (11-1), or through actions of other actors, or through a change in state of the subject system itself (e.g. the progression of a chemical reaction) or its environment (10-3) (e.g. the passage of time). The actor (10-1) keeps the model (11-1) updated with its own actions. When the processor (11-2) is processing according to the model (11-1), it updates the model (11-1) with intermediate actions and with the actions it effects in the subject system (10-2).
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