Case-Based Reasoning: A Research Paradigm

AI Magazine

In solving a new problem, we rely on past episodes. It assumes a memory model for representing, indexing, and organizing past cases and a process model for retrieving and modifying old cases and assimilating new ones. The research issues for case-based reasoning include the representation of episodic knowledge, memory organization, indexing, case modification, and learning. In this article, I review the history of case-based reasoning, including research conducted at the Yale AI Project and elsewhere.


The Use of Artificial Intelligence by the United States Navy: Case Study of a Failure

AI Magazine

This article analyzes an attempt to use computing technology, including AI, to improve the combat readiness of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. The method of introducing new technology, as well as the reaction of the organization to the use of the technology, is examined to discern the reasons for the rejection by the carrier's personnel of a technically sophisticated attempt to increase mission capability. This effort to make advanced computing technology, such as expert systems, an integral part of the organizational environment and, thereby, to significantly alter traditional decision-making methods failed for two reasons: (1) the innovation of having users, as opposed to the navy research and development bureaucracy, perform the development function was in conflict with navy operational requirements and routines and (2) the technology itself was either inappropriate or perceived by operational experts to be inappropriate for the tasks of the organization. Finally, this article suggests those obstacles that must be overcome to successfully introduce state-of-the-art computing technology into any organization.


A Survey of the Eighth National Conference on Artificial Intelligence: Pulling Together or Pulling Apart?

AI Magazine

A survey of 150 papers from the Proceedings of the Eighth National Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AAAI-90) shows that AI research follows two methodologies, each incomplete with respect to the goals of designing and analyzing AI systems but with complementary strengths. I propose a mixed methodology and illustrate it with examples from the proceedings.


Controlling a Black-Box Simulation of a Spacecraft

AI Magazine

The goal of this research is to learn to control the attitude of an orbiting satellite. To this end, we are investigating the possibility of using adaptive controllers for such tasks. Laboratory tests have suggested that rule-based methods can be more robust than systems developed using traditional control theory. The BOXES learning system, which has already met with success in simulated laboratory tasks, is an effective design framework for this new exercise.


The Computational Metaphor and Artificial Intelligence: A Reflective Examination of a Theoretical Falsework

AI Magazine

Advocates and critics of AI have long engaged in a debate that has generated a great deal of heat but little light. Whatever the merits of specific contributions to this ongoing debate, the fact that it continues points to the need for a reflective examination of the foundations of AI by its active practitioners. Following the lead of Earl MacCormac, we hope to advance such a reflective examination by considering questions of metaphor in science and the computational metaphor in AI. Specifically, we address three issues: the role of metaphor in science and AI, an examination of the computational metaphor, and an introduction to the possibility and potential value of using alternative metaphors as a foundation for AI theory.


Applied AI News

AI Magazine

The US Army has installed PRIDE Merlin is an expert system developed (Pulse Radar Intelligent Diagnostic at Hewlett Packard's Networked Environment), a diagnostic expert Computer Manufacturing Operation system developed by Carnegie Group (Roseville, CA) to forecast the factory's (Pittsburgh, PA), in Saudi Arabia in product demand. Lucid (Menlo Park, CA), producer of American Airlines (Dallas, TX) has the Lucid Common Lisp language, developed an expert system - Maintenance has acquired Peritus, a producer of Operation Control Advisor C/C and FORTRAN compilers. Consolidated Edison (New York, Nova Technology (Bethesda, MD), a NY) has developed the SOCCS Alarm new company founded by Naval Advisor, an expert system that recommends Research Center scientist Harold Szu, operator actions required plans to commercialize neural networks to maintain the necessary and continuous made from high-performance power supply to its customers. Kurzweil AI (Waltham, MA) has Inference (El Segundo, CA) has received a federal grant to develop named Peter Tierney CEO and president. VoiceGI, a voice-activated reporting Tierney was formerly VP of and database management system marketing at Oracle.


Letters to the Editor

AI Magazine

Dr. Northrup Fowler III Rome Laboratory Recently I circulated the Waltz taxonomy MVL theorem proving taxonomy, I wonder if AAAI system available by anonymous ftp might not consider a broader review from Stanford. Systems architectures and thereby gain some sense 2. Loop detection and recursion control of current relative interest and, over in the underlying theorem prover. Featuring applications in: of the discipline as a whole relative 4. A fast unifier that includes an Banking and Finance a valuable service to those who serve sequence variables. Published by I'm surprised in a way that AAAI t.stanford.edu, AAAI Press hasn't already undertaken this effort, "anonymous" as your user name, followed as do other professional organizations by any password you wish.


Controlling a Black-Box Simulation of a Spacecraft

AI Magazine

This article reports on experiments performed using a black-box simulation of a spacecraft. The goal of this research is to learn to control the attitude of an orbiting satellite. The space-craft must be able to operate with minimal human supervision. To this end, we are investigating the possibility of using adaptive controllers for such tasks. Laboratory tests have suggested that rule-based methods can be more robust than systems developed using traditional control theory. The BOXES learning system, which has already met with success in simulated laboratory tasks, is an effective design framework for this new exercise.


Case-Based Reasoning: A Research Paradigm

AI Magazine

Expertise comprises experience. In solving a new problem, we rely on past episodes. We need to remember what plans succeed and what plans fail. We need to know how to modify an old plan to fit a new situation. Case-based reasoning is a general paradigm for reasoning from experience. It assumes a memory model for representing, indexing, and organizing past cases and a process model for retrieving and modifying old cases and assimilating new ones. Case-based reasoning provides a scientific cognitive model. The research issues for case-based reasoning include the representation of episodic knowledge, memory organization, indexing, case modification, and learning. In addition, computer implementations of case-based reasoning address many of the technological shortcomings of standard rule-based expert systems. These engineering concerns include knowledge acquisition and robustness. In this article, I review the history of case-based reasoning, including research conducted at the Yale AI Project and elsewhere.