Course Description
Theory and practice of knowledge-based system construction. Topics will include knowledge-based construction, inference engines, reasoning from incomplete or uncertain information, and user interfaces.
Athena Title
KNOWLEDGE BASED SYS
Prerequisite
[CSCI(ARTI) 4540/6540 and CSCI(PHIL) 4550/6550] or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1.Student will demonstrate understanding of inference engines by hand- computing their operations. 2.Student will demonstrate understanding of standard methods for knowledge representation by constructing knowledge bases for appropriate tasks. 3.Student will write critiques of classic expert systems and other examples provided for analysis. 4.Student will complete a major project in small expert system development. a. Student will identify a domain, a problem, and at least one available expert. b. Student will interview expert(s) and organize data. c. Student will provide a study showing the feasibility of the project, including a conceptual analysis of the problem and the method of solution. d. Student will develop an expert system using an appropriate programing language or expert system shell. e. Student will write complete documentation for the system. f. Student will critique his/her own project, providing benchmarks, discussion of features present or absent, and a justification for the choice of techniques.
Topical Outline
I. Inference Engines (Rule Production Systems, Logic Programming, EMYCIN, Non-monotonic systems) II. Knowledge Representation (Clauses and Rules, Frames and Scripts, Defaults) III. Classic Systems (MYCIN, DENDRAL, PROSPECTOR, etc.) IV. Expert System Shells (Personal Consultant, ESP Advisor, APES, etc.) V. Knowledge Acquisition VI. Problem Analysis VII. User Interfaces.
Syllabus