Designing Normative Theories for Ethical and Legal Reasoning: LogiKEy Framework, Methodology, and Tool Support

A framework and methodology---termed LogiKEy---for the design and engineering of ethical reasoners, normative theories and deontic logics is presented. The overall motivation is the development of suitable means for the control and governance of intelligent autonomous systems. LogiKEy's unifying formal framework is based on semantical embeddings of deontic logics, logic combinations and ethico-legal domain theories in expressive classic higher-order logic (HOL). This meta-logical approach enables the provision of powerful tool support in LogiKEy: off-the-shelf theorem provers and model finders for HOL are assisting the LogiKEy designer of ethical intelligent agents to flexibly experiment with underlying logics and their combinations, with ethico-legal domain theories, and with concrete examples---all at the same time. Continuous improvements of these off-the-shelf provers, without further ado, leverage the reasoning performance in LogiKEy. Case studies, in which the LogiKEy framework and methodology has been applied and tested, give evidence that HOL's undecidability often does not hinder efficient experimentation.Comment: 50 pages; 10 figure

Using Expert Knowledge in Database-Oriented Problem Solving

Database-oriented problem solving often involves the processing of deduction rules which may be recursive in relational database systems. In this kind of problem solving, expert knowledge plays an important role in the guidance of correct and efficient processing. This paper presents a modularized relational planner RELPLAN, which develops a knowledge directed inference and planning mechanism for efficient processing of deduction rules in relational DB systems

Modelling domain knowledge using explicit conceptualization

Applications are characterized by the tasks and domains involved. Knowledge modeling can be divided into two conceptual subactivities: modeling the task and modeling the domain knowledge. An explicit conceptualization of the domain knowledge at the heart of its organization is discussed. A conceptualization is the objects presumed to exist and the relationships and functions among them. The annotations and the conceptualization guide the construction of applications and support flexible reasoning during problem solving. It also lets domain knowledge be reused

Research in constraint-based layout, visualization, CAD, and related topics : a bibliographical survey

The present work compiles numerous papers in the area of computer-aided design, graphics, layout configuration, and user interfaces in general. There is nearly no conference on graphics, multimedia, and user interfaces that does not include a section on constraint-based graphics; on the other hand most conferences on constraint processing favour applications in graphics. This work of bibliographical pointers may serve as a basis for a detailed and comprehensive survey of this important and challenging field in the intersection of constraint processing and graphics. In order to reach this ambitious aim, and also to keep this study up-to-date, the authors appreciate any comment and update information

Developing a group model for student software engineering teams

Work on developing team models for use in adaptive systems generally and intelligent tutoring systems more specifically has largely focused on the task skills or learning efficacy of teams working on short-term projects in highly-controlled virtual environments. In this work, we report on the development of a balanced team model that takes into account task skills, teamwork behaviours and team workflow that has been empirically evaluated via an uncontrolled real-world long-term pilot study of student software engineering teams. We also discuss the use of the the J4.8 machine learning algorithm with our team model in the construction of a team performance prediction system

Knowledge Representation and Reasoning with Definitional Taxonomies

We provide a detailed overview of knowledge representation issues in general and terminological knowledge representation in particular. Terminological knowledge representation, which originated with KL-ONE, is an object-centered approach in the tradition of semantic networks and frames. Terminological systems share three distinguishing characteristics: (1) They are intended to support the definition of conceptual terms comprising a "terminology" and to facilitate reasoning about such terms. As such, they are explicitly distinguished from assertional systems which make statements of fact based on some terminology. (2) Their concepts are arranged in a taxonomy so that the attributes of a concept apply to its descendants without exception. Thus, the proper location of any concept within the taxonomy can be uniquely determined from the concept‘s definition by an automatic process known as classification. (3) They restrict the expressiveness of their language to achieve relatively efficient performance. We first survey important general issues in the field of knowledge representation, consider the semantics of concepts and their interrelationship, and examine the intertwined notions of taxonomy and inheritance. After discussing classification, we present a number of implemented terminological systems in detail, along with several hybrid systems which couple terminological and assertional reasoning components. We conclude by assessing the current state of the art in terminological knowledge representation

Intelligent documentation as a catalyst for developing cooperative knowledge-based systems

In the long run, the development of cooperative knowledge-based systems for complex real world domains such as production planning in mechanical engineering should yield significant economic returns. However, large investments have already been made into the conventional technology. Intelligent documentation, which abstracts the current practice of the industry, is suggested as a stepping stone for developing such knowledge-based systems. A set of coordinated knowledge acquisition tools has been developed by which intelligent documents are constructed as an intermediate product, which by itself is already useful. Within the frame of the conventional technology, the task- and domain specific hypertext structures allow the reuse of production plans while simultaneously starting the development process for knowledge based systems

Working Notes from the 1992 AAAI Workshop on Automating Software Design. Theme: Domain Specific Software Design

The goal of this workshop is to identify different architectural approaches to building domain-specific software design systems and to explore issues unique to domain-specific (vs. general-purpose) software design. Some general issues that cut across the particular software design domain include: (1) knowledge representation, acquisition, and maintenance; (2) specialized software design techniques; and (3) user interaction and user interface