Research and applications work in AI is being conducted by several groups at Johnson Space Center (JSC). In the Research and Engineering Directorate, these groups include (1) the Artificial Intelligence and Information Sciences Office, (2) the Simulation and Avionics Integration Division, (3) the Avionics Systems Division (ASD), and (4) the Tracking and Communications Division. In the Space Operations Directorate, these groups include (1) the Mission Planning and Analysis Division - Technology Development and Applications Branch, (2) the Spacecraft Software Division, and (3) the Systems Division-Systems Support Section. The first part of the article describes the AI work in Research and Engineering Directorate.

The objectives of this article are (1) to define what is meant by "blackboard systems" and (2) to show the richness and diversity of blackboard system designs. The article begins with a discussion of the underlying concept behind all blackboard systems, the blackboard model of problem solving. In Section 2 the history of ideas is traced, and the designs of some application systems that helped shape the blackboard model are detailed. Part 2 of this article which will appear in the next issue of AI Magazine, describes and contrasts some blackboard systems and discusses the characteristics of application problems suitable for the blackboard method of problem solving.

We have implemented a knowledge system that integrates the many computational programs ( technology codes) Boeing aerospace vehicle designers use, thereby expediting design analysis. Because this system separates facts about attributes of the current set of technology codes from general knowledge about running the codes, those who maintain the system can keep it continuously up to date at low cost. In contrast, three conventional approaches failed because they could not be maintained easily.

This article contains reports from the various research groups in the SUNY Buffalo Department of Computer Science, Vision Group, and Graduate group in Cognitive Science. It is organized by the different research topics. However, it should be noted that the individual projects might also be organized around the methodologies and tools used in the research, and, of course, many of the projects fall under more than one category.

This report is derived from the IJCAI panel titled U.S and Japanese Cooperation in AI and R&D Opportunities, held August 23, 1986 at the University of California at Los Angeles. This panel discussed the sensitive topic of alternatives to nationalistic competitive strategies that have contributed to an extreme trade deficit surpassing $40 billion in 1986. Each country has designated AI research as a key to unlock years of generations of technology and has directed billions of dollars to fund this development. The most recognized projects are the U.S. Microelectronics Technology Computer Consortium (MCC) and Japan's Fifth Generation Computer Project (ICOT).

Review of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics: Five Overviews

Review of Heuristics: Intelligent Search Strategies for Computer Problem Solving

The Advanced Computational Methods Center (ACMC) established at the University of Georgia in 1984, supports several research projects in artificial intelligence. The primary goal of AI research at ACMC is the design and installation of a logic-programming environment with advanced natural language processing and knowledge-acquisition capabilities on the university's highly parallel CYBERPLUS system from Control Data Corporation.

This article presents a summary of past and current artificial intelligence research within the Computer Science Department at East Texas State University (ETSU). The Computer Science Department at ETSU offers a master of science degree with an emphasis in artificial intelligence. AI research, both past and present, has been funded by a grant from E-Systems, Greenville Division. Other computing facilities available for artificial intelligence research are four workstations, each providing up to 20 users with LISP and PROLOG interpreters.

Historically, the evolution of expert systems has been driven by scientifically based fields such as medicine, geology, and computer engineering. More recently, expert system developers have turned their attention to the highly judgmental decision tasks found in business and finance. We introduce the corporate assessment problem, point out the limitations of current expert system approaches to the solution to this problem, and suggest that a more fundamental approach based on recent work in qualitative physics might be fruitful.