Intelligent Systems for Engineering: A Knowledge-based Approach / Edition 1

by Ram D. Sriram

Overview

When men of knowledge impart this knowledge, I do not mean they will convince your reason. I mean they will awaken in you the faith that it is so. - Sri Krishna, Bhagavadgita BACKGROUND The use of computers has led to significant productivity increases in the engineering industry. Most of the computer-aided engineering applications were . restricted to algorithmic computations, such as finite element programs and circuit analysis programs. However, a number ofproblems encountered in engineering are not amenable to purely algorithmic solutions. These problems are often ill-structured; the term ill-structured problems is used here to de­ note problems that do not have a clearly defined algorithmic solution. An experienced engineer deals with these ill-structured problems using his/her judgment and experience. The knowledge-based systems (KBS) technology, which emerged out of research in artificial intelligence (AI), offers a method­ ologyto solve these ill-structuredengineering problems. The emergenceof the KBS technology can be viewed as the knowledge revolution: other important events that led to increased productivity are the industrial revolution (17th century); the invention of the transistor and associated developments (first half of the 20th century); and the world-wide web (towards the end of the 20th century). Kurzweil, in a lecture at M. LT on December 3, 1987, linked the progress of automation to two industrial revolutions: the first industrial PREFACE xxxii revolution leveraged our physical capabilities, whereas the second industrial revolution - the knowledge revolution - is expected leverage oUr mental ca­ pabilities.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783540761280
Publisher:	Springer London
Publication date:	08/22/1997
Edition description:	1st Edition.
Pages:	804
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.08(d)

Table of Contents

1 Knowledge-Based Expert Systems: an Overview.- 2 Problem Solving: Introduction to Search Methods.- 3 Knowledge Representation.- 4 Knowledge-Centered Problem Solving Strategies.- 5 Blackboard Systems.- 6 Analogical and Case-Based Reasoning.- 7 Qualitative Reasoning.- 8 Neural Networks.- 9 Project Management.- 10 Knowledge-Based System Building Tools.