Intelligent Systems for Engineering
Intelligent Systems for Engineering
R.D. SriramSpringer-Verlag1997ISBN 3540761284804 pp.£42.50
Keywords Artificial intelligence, Cybernetics, Intelligent systems, Problem solving
A substantial book offered as a textbook at graduate course level or as a researcher's reference for anyone interested in artificial intelligence applications. The content has evolved from the author's recently taught course in knowledge based engineering systems presented at MIT, and seeks to address both the theoretical and practical aspects of developing intelligent systems, with particular emphasis on knowledge based systems.
The book sets out with an overview of knowledge based expert systems (KBES), with an explanation of their motivation in the solving of ill-structured problems often involving large quantities of information. The architecture of KBES is outlined in comparison with more conventional algorithmic programming techniques, and an example of an elementary car breakdown diagnosis system is detailed. The latter example is referred to on numerous occasions through later chapters. The basic techniques of problem solving are introduced, in addition to the types of environments and languages adopted as the tools for developing a KBES. The general outline of the process of designing and implementing the system rounds off the overview. Subsequent chapters revisit the proposed techniques in greater detail,specifically search methods, knowledge representation and problem-solving strategies. The author relates the text to a number of examples, which like the car diagnosis system, form a core of applications referred to throughout the book. The chapters continue the knowledge engineering theme with coverage of blackboard systems, analogical and case based reasoning, ending with a description of qualitative reasoning. The author devotes a chapter to the description and application of neural networks and another to the project management issues behind the design through to the implementation of a KBES. The final chapter gives an overview of the various KBES building tools available to the engineer. The book concludes with two appendices, concerning inexact reference techniques and the representation of mechanical devices.
The lecture based source of the book and its large number of co-authors goes a long way to explaining the style of the presentation of the information. In addition to the perfunctory nature of the illustrations, the subject coverage appears more variable in depth, and the flow of the text appears less coherent than one might expect in a standard textbook on a subject. However, each chapter is prefaced by a good introduction, and is concluded with a well written summary complete with bibliographic notes and many references, all of which are easily approachable and in themselves make a good introduction to the subject. The bulk of the material in the chapters is more detailed in nature and might be more appropriate to those with a deeper interest in the subject.
