A knowledge-based decision support system for payload scheduling

This paper presents the development of a prototype Knowledge-based Decision Support System, currently under development, for scheduling payloads/experiments on space station missions. The DSS is being built on Symbolics, a Lisp machine, using KEE, a commercial knowledge engineering tool

The desktop interface in intelligent tutoring systems

The interface between an Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS) and the person being tutored is critical to the success of the learning process. If the interface to the ITS is confusing or non-supportive of the tutored domain, the effectiveness of the instruction will be diminished or lost entirely. Consequently, the interface to an ITS should be highly integrated with the domain to provide a robust and semantically rich learning environment. In building an ITS for ZetaLISP on a LISP Machine, a Desktop Interface was designed to support a programming learning environment. Using the bitmapped display, windows, and mouse, three desktops were designed to support self-study and tutoring of ZetaLISP. Through organization, well-defined boundaries, and domain support facilities, the desktops provide substantial flexibility and power for the student and facilitate learning ZetaLISP programming while screening the student from the complex LISP Machine environment. The student can concentrate on learning ZetaLISP programming and not on how to operate the interface or a LISP Machine

Talking to the Puma

The AI Lab's Unimation Puma 600 is a general-purpose industrial robot arm that has been interfaced to a Lisp Machine for use in robotics projects at the lab. It has been fitted with a force-sensing wrist. The Puma is capable of moving payloads of up to 5 pounds at up to 1 meter per second, with positioning accuracy to within a millimeter. This paper is a primer on the control of the Puma from a Lisp Machine. The current Lisp Machine interface is preliminary; the Lisp Machine communicates with the Puma is over a serial line in Unimation's VAL language. The interface will probably change over the next year; however, the commands documented in this paper will probably remain much the same.MIT Artificial Intelligence Laborator

Real-time application of knowledge-based systems

The Rapid Prototyping Facility (RPF) was developed to meet a need for a facility which allows flight systems concepts to be prototyped in a manner which allows for real-time flight test experience with a prototype system. This need was focused during the development and demonstration of the expert system flight status monitor (ESFSM). The ESFSM was a prototype system developed on a LISP machine, but lack of a method for progressive testing and problem identification led to an impractical system. The RPF concept was developed, and the ATMS designed to exercise its capabilities. The ATMS Phase 1 demonstration provided a practical vehicle for testing the RPF, as well as a useful tool. ATMS Phase 2 development continues. A dedicated F-18 is expected to be assigned for facility use in late 1988, with RAV modifications. A knowledge-based autopilot is being developed using the RPF. This is a system which provides elementary autopilot functions and is intended as a vehicle for testing expert system verification and validation methods. An expert system propulsion monitor is being prototyped. This system provides real-time assistance to an engineer monitoring a propulsion system during a flight

Ada as an implementation language for knowledge based systems

Debates about the selection of programming languages often produce cultural collisions that are not easily resolved. This is especially true in the case of Ada and knowledge based programming. The construction of programming tools provides a desirable alternative for resolving the conflict

A representational framework and user-interface for an image understanding workstation

Problems in image understanding involve a wide variety of data (e.g., image arrays, edge maps, 3-D shape models) and processes or algorithms (e.g., convolution, feature extraction, rendering). The underlying structure of an Image Understanding Workstation designed to support mulitple levels and types of representations for both data and processes is described, also the user-interface. The Image Understanding Workstation consists of two parts: the Image Understanding (IU) Framework, and the user-interface. The IU Framework is the set of data and process representations. It includes multiple levels of representation for data such as images (2-D), sketches (2-D), surfaces (2 1/2 D), and models (3-D). The representation scheme for processes characterizes their inputs, outputs, and parameters. Data and processes may reside on different classes of machines. The user-interface to the IU Workstation gives the user convenient access for creating, manipulating, transforming, and displaying image data. The user-interface follows the structure of the IU Framework and gives the user control over multiple types of data and processes. Both the IU Framework and user-interface are implemented on a LISP machine

MIT Mobile Robots - What's Next?

The MIT Mobile Robot Project began in January of 1985 with the objective of building machines that could operate autonomously and robustly in dynamically changing environments. We now have four working robots, each progressively more intelligent and sophisticated. All incorporate some rather novel ideas about how to build a control system that can adequately deal with complex environments. The project has also contributed some innovative and creative technical solutions in terms of putting together sensors, actuators, power supplies and processing power into whole systems that actually work. From our experiences over the past two and a half years, we have gained insight into the real issues and problems and what the goals should be for future robotics research. This paper gives our perspectives on mobile robotics: our objectives, experiences, mistakes and future plans.MIT Artificial Intelligence Laborator

TALOS: A distributed architecture for intelligent monitoring and anomaly diagnosis of the Hubble Space Telescope

Lockheed, the Hubble Space Telescope Mission Operations Contractor, is currently engaged in a project to develop a distributed architecture of communicating expert systems to support vehicle operations. This architecture, named Telemetry Analysis Logic for Operating Spacecraft (TALOS), has the potential for wide applicability in spacecraft operations. The architecture mirrors the organization of the human experts within an operations control center

A PC based fault diagnosis expert system

The Integrated Status Assessment (ISA) prototype expert system performs system level fault diagnosis using rules and models created by the user. The ISA evolved from concepts to a stand-alone demonstration prototype using OPS5 on a LISP Machine. The LISP based prototype was rewritten in C and the C Language Integrated Production System (CLIPS) to run on a Personal Computer (PC) and a graphics workstation. The ISA prototype has been used to demonstrate fault diagnosis functions of Space Station Freedom's Operation Management System (OMS). This paper describes the development of the ISA prototype from early concepts to the current PC/workstation version used today and describes future areas of development for the prototype