In robotics, a robotic paradigm is a mental model of how a robot operates. A robotic paradigm can be described by the relationship between the three basic elements of robotics: Sensing, Planning, and Acting. It can also be described by how sensory data is processed and distributed through the system, and where decisions are made.

The hierarchical or deliberative paradigm describes a top-down control structure in which the robot's actions are driven by explicit planning. The robot follows a sense-plan-act sequence. At each step, it collects sensory information, updates an internal model of the world and determines the next action based on the model.

The reactive paradigm describes a bottom-up control structure in which the robot's actions emerge form direct interactions between the robots senors and behaviours, without relying on a central plan or world model.

The hybrid paradigm combines elements of both the behaviours and reactive approaches. The robot first plans (deliberates) how to decompose a task into smaller subtasks and selects suitable behaviours to accomplish each one. Once planning is complete, these behaviours execute concurrently following the reactive paradigm.