  In this work we investigate on the concept of "restraining bolt", envisioned
in Science Fiction. Specifically we introduce a novel problem in AI. We have
two distinct sets of features extracted from the world, one by the agent and
one by the authority imposing restraining specifications (the "restraining
bolt"). The two sets are apparently unrelated since of interest to independent
parties, however they both account for (aspects of) the same world. We consider
the case in which the agent is a reinforcement learning agent on the first set
of features, while the restraining bolt is specified logically using linear
time logic on finite traces LTLf/LDLf over the second set of features. We show
formally, and illustrate with examples, that, under general circumstances, the
agent can learn while shaping its goals to suitably conform (as much as
possible) to the restraining bolt specifications.
