Design Of Knowledge-based System Research Articles

Knowledge-based expert systems in structural design

A large number of problems encountered by structural designers are ill structured and are either not amenable to an algorithmic solution or the algorithms are too cumbersome and restrictive. Knowledge-based expert systems (KBES) provide a means to assist in the solution of these ill-structured problems that demand considerable expertise. KBES also provide a flexible methodology for developing engineering software, as well as a mechanism for formalizing thought processes about design. In this paper applications of KBES to the preliminary design, analysis, and detailed design phases of structural design are discussed. A conceptual view of an integrated structural design system in the light of recent advances in KBES development is also presented.

A Knowledge-Based Logic Design System

Our computer-aided logic design system employs a synthesizer, a typical knowledgebased system. The register-transfer-level design is described in digital system design language (DDL). The DDL translator generates a technology-independent functional design from the DDL description, and the syntehsizer transforms the functional design into a technology-dependent gate-level design. We implemented the synthesizer as a knowledge-based system because it works without an established algorithm and is easy to modify according to the target technology. Our knowledge-based synthesizer for TTLICs generated a logic diagram of almost as high quality as one designed by a human expert. Only two CPU seconds are required for the FACOM M-380 to generate logic diagrams containing 1000 gates, whereas a human designer takes one week. The CMOS gate array version was developed in only one-half man-year, compared to four man-years for the original version

Information technology for the welfare of mankind

THE PRINCIPAL thrust of activities within the IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society is the development and use of the methods of systems engineering, together with the strongest of emphasis on human-system interaction concerns, for the design of knowledge-based cybernetic systems and processes that support human activities in planning, design, decisionmaking, and associated resource allocation.

CAD in architecture and building

CAAD tools have gradually come into use in architecture over the past years. Appraisal and evaluation of designs and design tools and the preparation of production innovations are discussed. Types of visualization and flexible layout programs for CAAD are assessed. The areas which knowledge-based design systems should cover are discussed.

Knowledge-Based Report Generation

Knowledge-Based Report Generation is a technique for automatically generating natural language summaries from databases. It is so named because it applies the tools of knowledge-based expert systems design to the problem of text generation. The technique is currently being applied to the design of an automatic natural language stock report generator. Examples drawn from the implementation of the stock report generator are used to describe the components of a knowledge-based report generator.

ACS.1: An Experimental Automated Command Support System

A laboratory system for studying the design of knowledge-based systems to support a manager in the development and execution of operational plans is described. The system, called ACS.1 for Automated Command Support, operates in the simulated environment of a naval air squadron, but the techniques used are believed applicable to a wide spectrum of environments requiring the planning of operations, the administration and monitoring of approved plans, and the retrospectrive analysis of completed operations. The development of ACS.1 has shown that the concept is feasible and has included the development of programming techniques to support it. The design of ACS.1 is predicated on the importance of system flexibility. This quality is considered essential to permit incremental growth of the system, to facilitate its adaptation to a changing environment or to new requirements, and to enable the manager to intervene in exceptional situations. Much of the design of ACS.1 was chosen to provide flexibility. As viewed from the top level, ACS.1 is highly modular, with coordination being achieved through a process of negotiation carried on via messages. The manager can intervene in this process in a central switching unit called the message handler. He can, for example, direct that certain messages be rerouted to new modules or to the terminal. This is a useful capability, facilitating the orderly incremental growth of the system, as well as permitting alteration of the system's behavior in preplanned ways to meet particular needs.

Defining Real-time: A Background For The Design Of Real-time Knowledge-based Systems

Dynamic real-time applications feature non-deterministic aspects that naturally match with the exploitation of the knowledge-based system technology. On the other hand, the use of the knowledge-based system technology makes even harder most of the difficulties of dynamic real-time system design. Because of this tradeoff, the design of real-time knowledge-based systems is still an advanced research topic. A fundamental open problem is the lack of a settled definition of the concept of real-time, which definitely states the requirements a software system must necessarily fulfill in order to be regarded as a certified real-time system. This paper proposes an original definition of real-time system, partly inspired by state-of-the-art definitions and partly based on an innovative problem decomposition perspective. Such definition is more formal than those that can be found in the literature, while being powerful enough to capture most of the real-time systems of practical interest in engineering domains.

Using A Constraint-oriented Knowledge-based System For Optimum Mechanical Engineering Design

Many efforts in the field of artificial intelligence are concentrated on solving geometric constraint satisfaction problems in specific domain. We describe and analyse how solving geometric constraint system called ANMEC is applied to a task of mechanism optimization. The interactive system ANMEC organized around a constraint-oriented knowledge base that contains required knowledge of 2-D and 3-D geometry. It allows ANMEC to perform analysis, dimensional synthesis and optimization of planar and spatial mechanisms by automatic generating and combining analytical closed-form solution with iterative numerical methods. In addition, analytical solution may be simplified by a general-purpose symbolic algebra system with human guidance. An example in Mechanical Engineering is given.

The Application Of A Knowledge Based Engineering System To The Design Of Computer Products

Knowledge-based Engineering Systems (KBES) represent a merging* of Object Oriented Programming and Computer Aided Design (CAD) technologies. Commercial systems were introduced in the mid 1980's. The benefits of these systems are spectacular for applications where a design must be customised or reconfigured to meet different requirements of many individual customers. This paper provides an introduction to Knowledge-based Design Systems and a description of a pilot project developed to redesign computer cabinets and configure bought-out parts at ICL. Conclusions on the project are presented with guidelines for the successful implementation of KBES developed during the project. A description of current work involving the University of Salford is also give, this involves the use of KBES to apply Design for Testability principles in the design of Printed Circuit Boards.