Plan recognition for space telerobotics

Current research on space telerobots has largely focused on two problem areas: executing remotely controlled actions (the tele part of telerobotics) or planning to execute them (the robot part). This work has largely ignored one of the key aspects of telerobots: the interaction between the machine and its operator. For this interaction to be felicitous, the machine must successfully understand what the operator is trying to accomplish with particular remote-controlled actions. Only with the understanding of the operator's purpose for performing these actions can the robot intelligently assist the operator, perhaps by warning of possible errors or taking over part of the task. There is a need for such an understanding in the telerobotics domain and an intelligent interface being developed in the chemical process design domain addresses the same issues

Artificial intelligence as writing: knowledge-based hypertext systems as a medium for communication

This thesis is an exploration of a new metaphor for artificial intelligence (AI). Traditionally, the computer within AI has been viewed as an agent, one with which the user engages in a conversation. More recently certain researchers have proposed the notion that artificial intelligence (and indeed computing in general) can be more appropriately seen as a form of writing. Initially this thesis reviews the literature in this area, and aspects of AI which support the approach. Features of writing are then described which show parallels with AI. This then allows us to take lessons from the history and development of both traditional writing and the new computer-based writing systems to inform the design of a new type of artificial intelligence system. A design based on these features, called Running Texts is presented through a number of small examples. Issues that arise from these and possible future developments, based on the implementation are then discussed. A rationale for users choosing to learn a system such as Running Texts is proposed, as benefits from the psychological and social implications of writing can be applied to AI systems, when they are seen as writing. The same parallels point out potential problems, and suggest new ways to see the relation between AI and thought

Proceedings of the NASA Conference on Space Telerobotics, volume 1

The theme of the Conference was man-machine collaboration in space. Topics addressed include: redundant manipulators; man-machine systems; telerobot architecture; remote sensing and planning; navigation; neural networks; fundamental AI research; and reasoning under uncertainty