A novel approach is presented for the development of expert systems for structural design problems. This approach differs from the conventional expert systems in two fundamental respects. First, mathematical optimization is introduced into the design process. Second, a computer is used to obtain parts of the knowledge necessary in the expert systems in addition to heuristics and experiential knowledge obtained from documented materials and human experts. As an example of this approach, a prototype coupled expert system, the bridge truss expert (BTExpert), is presented for optimum design of bridge trusses subjected to moving loads. BTExpert was developed by interfacing an interactive optimization program developed in Fortran 77 to an expert system shell developed in Pascal. This new generation of expert systems-embracing various advanced technologies such as AI (machine intelligence), the numeric optimization technique, and interactive computer graphics -- should find enormous practical implications.

A workshop on high-level connectionist models was held in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on 9-11 April 1988 with support from the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence and the Office of Naval Research. John Barnden and Jordan Pollack organized and hosted the workshop and will edit a book containing the proceedings and commentary. The book will be published by Ablex as the first volume in a series entitled Advances in Connectionist and Neural Computation Theory.

The Fifth Annual Theoretical Issues in Conceptual Information Processing Workshop took place in Washington, D.C. in June 1987. About 100 participants gathered to hear several invited talks and panels discussing the issues relating to artificial intelligence and cognitive science.

Second, the problem domain of the used be as good as possible. Two The application task requires little task is stable. This means that the characteristics of the domain expert or no common sense. Although domain should be well established can help determine the degree of researchers are continuing to study and unlikely to undergo vast changes expertise. First, the expert is highly the representation of commonsense during the life of the expert system respected by experienced people in the knowledge, no practical systems have project. This stability does not require domain field. Because the goal of the been developed to date (Lenat, that the problem-solving process project is often to simulate the Prakash, and Shepherd 1986). A problem required to perform the task be well expert's performance, this expert requiring common sense on the understood, simply that the basics of should be viewed by others as a genuine part of the expert should be left to a the task domain be established.

Within the academic and professional auditing communities, there has been growing concern about how to accurately assess the various risks associated with performing an audit. These risks are difficult to conceptualize in terms of numeric estimates.

The following is a synopsis of the findings of the first AAAI Workshop on AI Applications to Battle Management held at the University of Washington, 16 July 1987. This paper served as a focus for the workshop presentations and discussions and was augmented by the workshop presentations; it can also serve as a roadmap of topics for future workshops. AI can provide battle management with such capabilities as sensor data fusion and adaptive simulations. Also, several key needs in battle management will be AI research topics for years to come, such as understanding free text and inferencing in real time.

The PROSENET/TEXTNET approach is designed to facilitate the generation of polished prose by an expert system. The approach uses the augmented transition network (ATN) formalism to help structure prose generation at the phrase, sentence, and paragraph levels. The approach also uses expressive frames to help give the expert system builder considerable freedom to organize material flexibly at the paragraph level. The PROSENET /TEXTNET approach has been used in a number of prototype expert systems in medical domains, and has proved to be a convenient and powerful tool.

The goal of intelligent computer-aided engineering (ICAE) is to construct computer programs that capture a significant fraction of an engineer's knowledge. Today, ICAE systems are a goal, not a reality. We begin by examining several scenarios of what ICAE systems could be like. Next we describe why ICAE won't evolve directly from current applications of expert system technology to engineering problems.

The above are subject to won the title outright with a score of verification by the USCF; however, in 4.5 - 0.5. The finale was very exciting the past our calculated ratings have as the number one seeded player, never differed from the USCF's by International Master Ed Formanek, more than 2 points. This advance also had a perfect 4-0 going into the final places Hitech among the top 150 players round against the number two seed in the U.S. Hitech's performance Hitech, which was the only competitor rating was 2507. Hitech had to win In tournaments since the National to gain the title, whereas Formanek Open, Hitech had a mediocre result of could become Champion by drawing 3.5 - 2.5 at the Fredkin Masters Open this game. Hitech played beautifully, in Pittsburgh, May 28-30.