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Conference Reports
Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing
A symposium on Artificial Intelligence in Manu-
facturing took place October 4 - 6 , 1983, in
Leningrad, USSR. The symposium was organized
by IFAC and supported by IFIP TC-5. V.M.
Ponomaryov of the Academy of Sciences of the
USSR (Leningrad Research Center) was the chair-
man of the local organizing committee.
The symposium consisted of a plenary session,
four regular sessions along with poster presenta-
tions, and a round table discussion. Below we pro-
vide an overview of most of the papers presented.
Plenary Session
Artificial Intelligence
Research in artificial intelligence is becoming
extremely important for the development and use
of modern computers, said G.S. Pospelov (USSR).
In this presentation, entitled Artificial Intelligence
as Basis for a New Information Technology three
main directions in artificial intelligence research
were discussed:
- theory of heuristic search,
- development of intelligent robots,
- and the third and most advanced, the radical
"intellectualization" of computers, according to
the speaker.
Pospelov's conclusion was that the process of
technological system development within the
framework of the new information technology is
evolving into a process of technological system
manufacturing, based on flexible automatic pro-
duction.
Efficient Use of Deficient Knowledge
J. Hatvany (Hungarian Academy of Sciences,
Budapest) distinguished three major phases in the
North-Holland
Computers in Industry 5 (1984) 159-193
0166-3615/'84/$03.00 © 1984 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. (North-Holland)
development of computer-aided manufacturing
systems to the present time. However, while the
forward-looking pioneers of this field have always
envisaged highly integrated and comprehensive
systems, technological realities have only allowed
these to be gradually realized in a piece-wise fash-
ion, he went on to say. The first phase was that of
the direct computer control of groups of machine
tools, first implemented in the late sixties. The
second, that of the flexible manufacturing systems
equipped with automatic workpiece transport and
changing devices, automatic tool-changers and
some form of online computer-based scheduling,
was introduced in the seventies and systems of this
type are now in the stage of rapid, world-wide
proliferation. The third phase, that of Computer
Integrated Manufacturing, consists of systems that
integrate the design, process planning, production
control, jig-, fixture- and tooling-systems, dimen-
sional control, assembly, quality control and stock
optimization problems of the manufacturing pro-
cess in a single, comprehensive, conceptual whole.
Such systems are now emerging and crossing the
difficult threshold from theory and experiment to
industrial practice and commercial viability. They
already contain some features, especially those
connected with the monitoring and diagnostic
facilities required for unmanned operation in the
second and third shifts, which are calling increas-
ingly upon the relatively new disciplines of artifi-
cial intelligence research.
It was proposed some years ago that the next
phase would be that of intelligent manufacturing
systems. Briefly, the systems belonging to this phase
may be characterized by their ability to solve
problems without either a detailed, explicit algo-
rithm available for each solution procedure, or all
the facts, mathematical relationships and models
available in perfect arrangement and complete
form for a deterministic (and unique) answer to be
found. They are therefore systems capable of solv-
ing, within certain limits, unprecedented, unfore-
160 ConferenceReports
seen problems on the basis even of incomplete and
imprecise information. While it may well be said,
according to Hatvany, that this mentality is con-
tradictory of the striving of the engineering profes-
sion for correctness, precision, and unequivocal
truth, it nevertheless reflects the actual work-style
of the creative engineer, whose task is to find the
realistic and profitable compromises between the
laws of nature and societal realities, which dis-
tinguish his approach from that Of the mathemati-
cian or the natural scientist.
Hatvany further outlined some recent work in
systems synthesis, production control, process
planning, monitoring and diagnostics, utilizing AI
techniques. Proceeding from these results, he fi-
nally put forward new suggestions - based on
situation-recognition, problem-solving and game-
theoretic considerations regarding the semi-auto-
matic perfection of knowledge-bases and meta-
bases in the absence of explicit, deterministic
knowledge.
Artificial Intelligence in Japan
Technologies of information processing have
recently made remarkable progress in various
fields. One of the main reasons for this is the
development of cheaper computers brought about
by the LSI technologies, said Y. Shirai (Electro-
technical Laboratory, Japan). The speaker felt that
in order to make computers more intelligent, the
main problems in communication technology,
software technology, and artificial intelligence
technology must be solved. Japanese industry has
recently become interested in these areas and has
paid major contributions to the formulation of the
so-called 'Fifth-Generation Computer Systems'
programme. This presentation, entitled Artificial
Intelligence for Industrial Application in Japan, de-
scribed the recent state of AI technology (mainly
in Japan) for industrial use and some new practi-
cal systems.
Session 1. Knowledge Representation and In-
dustrial Expert Systems
Knowledge Acquisition
A crucial problem in designing a rule-based
expert system is knowledge acquisition, explained
('omputers in Industry
G. Guida and C. Tasso (University of Udine, Italy).
In this invited lecture, entitled The Issue of Knowl-
edge Acquisition in the Design of Rule Based Expert
Systems, the lecturer focused on the goal of bridg-
ing the gap between the way human experts ex-
press knowledge and the way it has to be for-
mulated to fit the mode of operation of an expert
system.
Knowledge Representation
W. Bibel (F.R. Germany) took a look at the
problems of knowledge representation as a whole.
From this perspective he discussed a number of
issues. Motivated by deductive aspects, his invited
lecture Knowledge Representation from a Deductive
Point of View expressed a strong bias towards logic
as a core formalism for representing and process-
ing knowledge of any kind.
Multi-Problem Solving
An approach to problem solving, called multi-
problem solving, was presented by G. Guida, G.
Miglio and M. Somalvico (Milan Polytechnic
Artificial Intelligence Project, Italy). Based on the
results achieved, a knowledgeable representation
language, which is aimed to define structured
problems and to express relationships among them,
was presented in this invited lecture entitled A
Representation Language for Multi-Problem-Solv-
ing. The speaker also gave a sample application of
multi-problem solving, to show the utilization of
the representation language.
Data Bases
In his lecture, entitled Data Bases with Fuzzy
Information and Approximate Reasoning in Expert
Systems, H. Prade (Universit6 Paul Sabatier, Tou-
louse, France) discussed two applications of fuzzy
sets and possibility theory: (1) data bases with
fuzzy information and fuzzy queries, and (2) ap-
proximate/plausible reasoning in expert systems.
Prade then presented the main ideas of a project in
progress concerning a general approach to the
management of relational databases with fuzzy
attribute values. This approach makes external use
of the dual concepts of possibility and necessity of
measures. Prade also discussed the problem of
inferencing from uncertain/imprecise premises.
Computers in Industry
PA UL
PAUL is the name of a project (and its resulting
software) recently started at the AI laboratory of
LinkOping University, explained U. Hein (Lin-
k6ping University, Sweden). Its objective is to
develop software for knowledge representation and
reasoning to be used in expert system applications.
One of the main reasons for starting the PAUL
project is the lack of commercially available AI
software, explained Hein. The full title of this
presentation was PAUL - The Kernel of Represen-
tation and Reasoning System Designed for Knowl-
edge Engineering Tasks. Hein mainly discussed
PAUL-l, the first of a series of experimental im-
plementations.
Planning Activity of Cooperate I-Actors
An intelligent actor (I-actor) system is able to
know its internal and external environments by
using inference mechanisms, and to use the results
to realize goals. L Futo (Institute for Coordination
of Computer Techniques, Budapest, Hungary) and
7". Gergely (Research Institute for Applied Com-
puter Science, Budapest, Hungary) explained that
the behavior of an I-actor is mainly connected
with solving problems and making decisions. The
functional structure of 1-actors is able cope with
uncertainty. However, this cannot be solved by
one I-actor, but only by a group of them. The
speaker said that this group should be organized in
such a way that it forms a new I-actor which is an
abstract one with regard to the elements of the
group. The speaker presented a formal tool to
model cooperating I-actors, based on the language
TS-PROLOG of logic simulation. This language
provides the possibility to plan the activities of the
constituent I-actors in such a way that an abstract
I-actor is realized.
Dynamic Model of a Problem Domain
A person rarely stores data in his memory
exactly as h e / s h e observes it, said H. Oim, K. Koit,
S. Litvak, T. Roosma and M. Saluveer (USSR).
The observed data undergo various kinds of
processing-assimilation, selection, generalization,
etc. When speaking about this processing, the term
'interpretation' is ordinarily used: the observed
data are interpreted in a certain way and later
Conference Reports 161
used. All this applies to discourse comprehension.
The speaker went on to explain about the different
research done on these kinds of processing. How-
ever, the exact nature of interpretation is still far
from clear. The speaker cited two problems; (1)
which processed interpretation are realized and by
which mechanisms are these processes carried out,
and (2) how could the corresponding mechanisms
be incorporated into the formal means currently
used in language understanding systems. The full
title of this lecture was Constructing and Updating
a Dynamic Model of a Problem Domain.
Logic and Formalized Aspects of AI
Adequate evaluation of the significance of logic
and its methods for the development of artificial
intelligence is a methodological sine qua non for
further progress in this field. V.A. Myasnikov, M.B.
Ignatjev, E.F. Karavaev expressed their belief that
it is desirable to continue the research in develop-
ment of the environment where the intelligent
robot operates. Certain results in tense logic and
model logic lead to improvement of the environ-
ment representation system and of the robot
strategy, concluded the speaker. The full title of
this presentation was Logic and Formalized Aspects
of Artificial Intelligence.
Many Sorted Attribute Systems
Units and semantic networks are the most pop-
ular schemes for representation of structured ob-
jects. Both schemes could formally be interpreted
by a predicate calculus, reported M.W. Sobolewski
(Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw). In the
lecture Structured Object Representations in Many-
Sorted Attribute Systems a new representational
scheme was proposed which is based on so-called
many sorted attribute systems. The speaker defined
elementary attributes and four structured attri-
butes. With these attributes, the speaker was able
to describe a structured object, consisting of some
simpler objects. A description of such an object is
then directly possible. For this purpose the speaker
associated a formalized language, with a collection
of attributes defining syntax, semantics and
axiomatics of this language. By analogy to units
and semantic networks, the speaker proposed so-
called value units and attribute networks. An in-
terpretation of these new structured object repre-
sentations was also presented in this lecture.
162 ConferenceReports
USC-3: A New Variant
USC is a language of interpretation and calcu-
lus in meanings. It is a language of complete
explication of meaning, i.e., each type of combina-
tion of the string of elements has one and only one
meaning. V.V. Martynov (USSR) told the con-
ference that USC is a language of universal
canonization, that is to say restrictions imposed on
its system do not depend on the fragment of the
universe which the language signifies. In this pre-
sentation the speaker demonstrated the ways of
generating and transforming the strings of USC
and attempted to prove that this knowledge repre-
senting language in its program variant can be-
come a solver of a task.
Interpretation on the Basis of Classification
This poster lecture, entitled The Formal Model
of Knowledge Interpretation on the Basis of Classifi-
cation Process was an attempt to create a link
between classification as a meta procedure of hu-
man thinking on the one hand and the problems
of knowledge interpretation and the understanding
of phrases, on the other hand. K.A. Nadenova
(USSR) identified a need for the formalization of
knowledge interpretation because of the ever grow-
ing communication between such systems as a
" m a n " and a "computer". In the speaker's opin-
ion, an absolute knowledge interpretation does not
exist.
Hybrid Simulation in Deciding Tasks
According to J.A. Gelfanbein and LD. Rudinsky
(USSR) one of the main tools in artificial intelli-
gence is computer simulation. The speaker gave
some analyses of the causes that impend the re-
search of complex systems on the basis of well-
known simulation concepts. The speaker also
offered an approach to solve this problem by
constructing a specific hybrid system of models,
for numerical information processing. The full title
of this poster lecture was Hybrid Simulation in
Deciding Tasks of Artificial Intelligence.
Fuzzy Linguistics
In a poster presentation L V. Ezhkova (Moscow
Aviation Institute, USSR) suggested a solution of
Computers in Industry
the problem of determining the universal meaning
of estimates such as "high", "rare", "light" (to
name a few) and a way to formalize this meaning.
The lecturer reviewed a linguistic approach to the
problem at hand, based on fuzzy set theory. The
proposed solution is supposed to be useful for the
development of natural language systems, expert
systems and other problem solving systems. The
title of this presentation was The Universal Scale
for Representing Linguistic Estimates.
Minimal-Description Models
The problem of constructing minimal-descrip-
tion models for a certain class of objects (using
only the minimum of necessary knowledge) was
considered by K.A. Pupkov and O.B. Evseev
(USSR). The characteristics of optimal models ex-
pressing their structure were analytically described
as well as precise and appropriate methods of
optimal model synthesis. The computational com-
plexity of the corresponding algorithms amongst
other things was discussed by the speaker. The full
title of this poster presentation was The Synthesis
of Minimal-Description Models for Knowledge Rep-
resentation.
Relational Modelling
In the poster lecture Relational Modelling of
Information System Object Area, W.A. Kracht
(USSR) identified knowledge representation in AI,
conceptual or semantic modelling in database the-
ory (DB) and data abstraction in programming
language research (PL) as three areas of common
interest. The lecturer then presented two different
conceptual models from this common point of
view. The first one is Chen's entity-relationship
model, the second being the relation lattice-work
model proposed by the speaker. The former serves
as a description and comparison basis for the
latter. The speaker considered constituent parts of
both models, their semantics and a formal descrip-
tion based on set theory, and paid much attention
to the representation of the relations among entity
sets.
Understanding, Knowledge and Thinking
In his poster presentation I. Sildmi~e began
from the fact that children acquire knowledge
Computers in Industry
about the existing world gradually through sensual
and language cognition without preliminary
acquisition of knowledge about word meanings.
The aim of this lecture was to find out the struc-
ture of the sensual and language knowledge that
allows a description of reality and formation of
knowledge, and to clear up how this structure is
expressed in language. The full title of this presen-
tation was Structure of Understanding, Knowledge
and Thinking.
Mathematical Programming Language Theory
In this poster presentation, entitled Fundamen-
tals of the Mathematical Programming Languages
Theory, the basic principles for a unified mathe-
matical theory both of computational processes
and of knowledge representation systems were pre-
sented. V.A. Tusov, A.L Troyan and N.V. Fotiev
(Academy of Sciences of the USSR) showed that
all operations were concrete of the universal oper-
ation (the choice operation) that is formulated in
terms of tasks of finding knowledge systems. The
knowledge representation system is based on three
principles: (1) the structured representation of ob-
jects is the primary form of their existence, (2)
meaning (sign) is the evaluated superposition of
basic functions in the knowledge system, and (3)
to define a knowledge system is to define the set of
meanings.
NL Man-Machine Interactions
The research in formal models of using natural
language in thinking and communication processes
is becoming more and more realistic in the AI
systems theory. V.A. Fomichev (USSR) said that
such models are necessary for designing natural
language, man-machine interaction systems
(NLIS). The speaker described the procedure for
developing an NLIS which includes:
1. the ability of an active dialogue with the user
(on the basis of flexible application of diverse
knowledge),
2. the ability to exploit the problem domain model
(including a conceptual dictionary for task solv-
ing), and
3. the possibilities of system development and
confident guidance.
This poster presentation was entitled Formal
Systems for Natural Language Man-Machine Inter-
action Modeling.
ConferenceReports 163
Session 2. Robots and Flexible Manufacturing
Modeling
Interactive Robot Programming
According to P. Bison, E. Pagello, P. Rodighiero
and G. Trainito (LADSEB Laboratory, Padova,
Italy) the ability of the new A.I. machines (i.e.,
advanced graphic workstations with a large main
storage, a mouse device, a high resolution bit
mapped raster screen, a sophisticated communica-
tion oriented operating system and high level lan-
guages) will improve the interaction between the
operator and a manipulator. In this invited lecture
entitled An Advanced Graphics Workstation for In-
teractive Robot Planning, an experimental software
project under development at LADSEB Labora-
tory, which utilizes such a machine to control a
Puma robot, was described.
Computer Aided Design of Robots
One of the most promising fields where com-
puter engineering finds wide application nowadays
is Computer-Aided Design of complex systems,
said F.M. Kulakov and V.N. Neokesariysky be-
cause it makes possible quality increase and re-
duces development time lags. It becomes evident
that CAD of industrial robots (being typically
complex systems) and their manufacturing en-
vironment will have large macroeconomic effects.
F.M. Kulakov and V.N. Neokesariysky pre-
sented in this lecture an approach to the problem
of developing a system for CAD of robotic de-
vices, realized on a CYBER-172, BASM and meth-
ods of designing industrial robots with the help of
this system.
Robot Planning System
This presentation, entitled Representation and
Processing of Production Rule Interactions in a
Robot Planning System, dealt with the decision
making system of a mobile robot using the for-
malism of production systems. The speaker, P.
Dufresne (Laboratoire d'Automatique et d'Analyse
des Syst6mes du CNRS, France) explained the
database which describes the world where the robot
moves and acts. The deductions which can be
made and the actions which can be performed are
164 ConferenceReports
described by certain rules. In this lecture, Dufresne
dealt mainly with learning as extracting knowledge
from these rules and re-using former plans. The
major aim of Dufresne's work is to incorporate
learning in the planning system of the mobile
robot involved.
Constructing Programs with a Plan Formation Sys-
tem
G. Gini and M. Gini (Istituto di Elettrotecnica
ed Elettronica, Milano, Italy) described a robot
planning system for constructing manipulator pro-
grams using a very high-level programming lan-
guage. The purpose is to obtain the desired pro-
gram by a deductive system based on the proce-
dural approach of goal-oriented languages, said
Ms. Gini. The possibility of using some knowledge
about facts and relations valid in the world and of
operating deductions by suitable inference rules
makes goal-oriented languages excellent tools for
implementing experimental systems, she asserted.
The system she presented can construct plans en-
abling the robot to accomplish certain tasks (such
as moving blocks to construct some specified
structures). It operates on an internal 3-dimen-
sional model and produces programs that convert
initial states into given global states.
Adaptive Robotics
Existing robotic systems depend on precise
mechanisms and are energetically inefficient.
Adaptive control should permit less expensive
hardware, and reduce energy consumption, at the
cost of increased complexity of software. A.M.
Andrew (Great Britain) discussed some aspects of
the "State of Art" in robotics, and also made some
critical comments on the robotics field as a whole
in a fairly general way. This lecture was entitled
Some Comments on Adaptive Robotics.
Robot Knowledge Structuralization
According to V.K. Gorodetzky, V.V. Drozhzhin
and R.M. Yusyupov the creation of intelligent
robots and robotic systems of the third and fourth
generation is inevitably connected with solving the
following three main problems:
1. robot knowledge presentation of dynamic en-
vironments;
Computers in Industo'
2. recognition of static and dynamic situations of
conditional decision making;
3. making control decisions (purposeful behavior
planning).
The full title of this presentation was Methods
of Robot Knowledge Structuralization and Generali-
zation for Decision Making in Dynamic Environ-
ment.
Assembly Planning
Assembly planning automation is related to the
application of multifunctional robots executing
complex constructions. According to V.P. Gladun,
N.L Galagan and Y.L. Dryutchin (USSR) this task
should be investigated at different levels of robot
control. Planning for the highest level consists of
the formation in sequence of part connections.
This planning depends more on specific tasks,
resulting in the necessity to use automatic facili-
ties. However, planning for the lower level consists
of the formation in sequence of manipulator
movements when installing parts into the proper
fixed position, explained the speaker. For the lower
levels, robot actions can be unified and hence the
control process can be organized on the basis of
rigid branching programs. In the presentation en-
titled Assembly Planning on the Base of Drawing
Descriptions, the speaker dealt with this topic on
the basis of drawing descriptions for the highest
control level.
Real Time Software in Advanced Robotics
A robotic system is primarily composed of three
parts: a data acquisition subsystem, a digital
processor, and a manipulator. The ultimate super-
vision of the control functions of the digital
processor is generally affected by a human opera-
tor. In advanced robotics, it is precisely the control
functions constituting the kernel of the robotic
system that are gaining in complexity, said L.
Henninger and A. Osorio (LISMI, Orsay, France).
The speaker explained that this was due to the
increasing use of complex data processing in addi-
tion to the traditional types of DP. In this sense,
substantial research efforts have been undertaken
in the field of image analysis, pattern recognition,
dynamic control, cooperation between robots and
artificial intelligence.
The speaker outlined the main constraints on
Computers in Industry
robotics software. In view of these problems, he
said the aim of future work is to layout a structure
capable of supporting adequately this environ-
ment.
Collision-Free Trajectories
The problem of collision-free trajectory genera-
tion for a manipulator or a mobile robot in the
presence of obstacles was considered by L.
Gouzenez (Laboratoire d'Automatique et d'Analyse
des Systrmes du CNRS, Toulouse, France). The
speaker showed that this is equivalent to the prob-
lem of moving a point through a subset of Rn.
After an analysis of the possible solutions to the
above problem, Gouzenez described feasible
strategies to obtain collision-free trajectories, and
gave an implementation example which demon-
strated that this approach allows a general pro-
gram to deal successfully with different robots.
Algorithms of Adaptive Correction
In this poster presentation, entitled Algorithms
of Adaptive Correction of the Robots Knowledge and
Decisions Making Systems, a class of problems was
analyzed using the concept of an expanding dy-
namic graph. Algorithms for the adaptive correc-
tion of vertex incidence and optimal weight
matrices were proposed by G.D. Penev (Bulgaria).
These matrices allow the robot to quickly utilize
the new information and to develop the optimal
behavior in finite time. The algorithms and the
decision systems were discussed according to the
shortest path problem. The speaker explained that
in general cases algorithms can be used for action
and movement planning as well as for the analysis
of cause-consequence relations and theorems
proofs.
Fuzzy Mapping Relation for Robots
A.N. Averkin and S.K. Dulin (USSR) described
in a poster presentation the construction of an
internal world model of an AI-system (e.g., a
robot), which works in a rather complex external
world, so that the internal model can't completely
reflect the world. There are many reasons for the
system to evaluate its parameters or to perform
any action incorrectly (e.g., effectors and receptors
can make mistakes). As a precise functional map-
Conference Reports 165
ping between the state-space of the model and the
state-space of the external world cannot be con-
structed, the speaker developed a fuzzy mapping
as the modelling relation for the system consid-
ered.
Epistemological Structure of Visual Interpretation
Visual interpretation is conjectured to be of
three epistemologically distinct kinds: generaliz-
ing, denoting and naming. Treating the notion of
interpreting as an epistemologically homogeneous
one obscures the interpretation problem and leads
to false controversies, stated A. Bielik (Poland).
The speaker surveyed a representation model of
interpretation systems which is an elaborate ver-
sion of a semantic net formalism. The speaker
directed the presentation towards exposing the
most essential differences between the kinds of
interpretations possible, which he then interpreted.
He showed that the epistemological structure of
visual interpretation forms a multidimensional
hump shaped lattice, rather than a single hierarchy
of levels.
Visuo-Motor Processes in Robots
According to S. Gaglio, L. Massone and P.
Morasso (Istituto di Elettrotecnica, Italy) robots,
as intelligent visuo-motor machines, must rely on
internal representations of shapes which are gen-
eral and abstract. Existing solid modeling tech-
niques meet these needs only partially. The speaker
discussed an alternative representation which is
based on skeletons, extending the idea of gener-
alized cylinders. In particular, the lecturer dis-
cussed the mathematical properties and experi-
mental data with regard to planar shapes.
Visual Robot Systems
The reduction of the amount of sensory data
transmitted for computer processing is one of the
most complicated tasks in the design of a visual
recognition system in robot engineering. The need
to reduce the amount of data is due to micro-
processor tools of limited performance and a rela-
tively small capacity of fast memory. On the other
hand, picture description in television or photoma-
trix visual devices requires a great amount of data.
This lecture, presented by LM. Makarov, A.M.
166 Conference Reports
Mikhailov and V.Z. Rakhmankulov (Institute of
Control Sciences, Moscow, USSR), suggested an
approach to the above problem based upon the
use of a stochastic procedure for generating gener-
alized picture features and their subsequent use for
effective picture classification. The full title of this
presentation was A Stochastic Pattern Recognition
Algorithm for Robot Visual Systems.
Industrial Robot Vision System
Visual data processing is a major problem in
Artificial Intelligence. V.M. Grishkin and P.M.
Kulakov (Academy of Sciences, USSR) described a
simple, cheap and fast reacting technological vi-
sion system, necessary for performing some specific
visual data processing applications in manufactur-
ing processes. This poster lecture was particularly
focused on increasing the speed of the visual re-
sponse system.
Session 3. Decision-Making in Computer-Aided
Planning, Design and Control
Knowledge Acquisition in C A D / C A M
In this invited lecture Y. Gardan (Micado
Meytan, France) presented some problems of
knowledge acquisition in C A D / C A M systems,
with particular reference to interactive systems.
The speaker described some experiments as well as
solutions, in the domain of "parametrized ele-
ments" and "generalized graphic inputs", although
these solutions use only a few known Artificial
Intelligence techniques. At the end of this pre-
sentation, the speaker introduced aids that can be
derived from C A D / C A M systems. Convinced that
the principal aspects of C A D / C A M is (geometric
and technological) modelling, the speaker criti-
cized the present state-of-the-art in CAD/CAM as
data representing company know how are not yet
part of current models. According to the speaker,
only some approaches such as the tree description
of construction methods can be considered as first
steps in knowledge acquisition in CAD/CAM sys-
tems. In the speaker's opinion knowledge acquisi-
tion in C A D / C A M systems must be natural for
the end user.
Computers in Indust O,
Problem-Oriented Task Solver
This poster presentation described a problem-
oriented task solver. Some theoretical properties,
the algorithmic realization and the solution of
certain practical problems were considered by V.V.
Ivanischev, M.B. Egorov, V.E. Marley and V.P.
Morozov (Academy of Sciences of the USSR).
Intelligent Interfaces for Planning
Calculational-logic systems for planning and
design present new sophisticated, scientific-techni-
cal problems, due to a number of reasons. Accord-
ing to G.S. Pospelov and V.M. Solodov (USSR) the
considerable expansion of applications based on
mathematical planning and design has saturated
program environments by large numbers of spe-
cialists in applied mathematics and programming.
At the same time, the ever growing role of the
numerical experiment in planning and design
requires the active participation of specialists in
the fields of economy, industrial organization and
technical system design (to name a few), who are
not specialists in programming and in applied
mathematics. The speaker explained that a highly
acute problem exists in providing "active interac-
tion" between the computer and huge numbers of
users as the overwhelming majority of them is
aware of only the fundamentals of programming.
This lecture was entitled Intellectual Interface of
Computing Systems Oriented to Planning Problems.
Software Development for Non-Programming Users
This presentation was devoted to the problem
of information technology development based on
the mass use of problem oriented packages in
planning, design and management. The necessity
to develop special means for building and utilizing
such packages was noted by A.1. Ehrlich (USSR).
To achieve this the speaker proposed the develop-
ment of a program of systems which are similar to
database management systems from the functional
point of view, to be named (for practical purposes)
package program management systems (PPMS).
In this lecture, entitled Concerning Program
Package Development Means for Non-Programming
Users, Ehrlich discussed the architecture, func-
tional purpose and methods of operation of the
PPMS MAVR (a dialogue simulation system). This
Computers in Industry
PPMS is intended for building and utilizing pro-
gram packages for block-organized system design,
said the speaker. The lecturer showed how the user
interface is being formed in the course of applying
the MAVR Program Package Management System
in different subject areas, along with the func-
tional content of the package under development.
Decision Making Optimization
Systematical methods for searching optimal de-
cisions for control algorithm problems in chess
were investigated by E.M. Pogossian (USSR), in a
poster presentation. The speaker formulated the
conditions of guaranteed program optimization
with separate actions of regularities accumulation,
generalization and optimization operators usage.
The full title of this presentation was The Opera-
tors of the Systems of Decision Making Optimi-
zation on the Basis of Regularities.
Dialogue System for Decision Making
S.N. Vasiljev and A.P. Seledkin (USSR) gave a
poster description of a dialogue system used for
planning, control and design problems. The devel-
oped system permits to automatize the decision
making process, which is understood as making a
choice between some rational versions of alterna-
tive solutions (projects, designs, controls). A work-
ing program is formed automatically using pro-
gram modules, as well as problem descriptions and
initial and intermediate data. The main features of
the system are its functional filling, modules that
fit various methods of decision making theory. The
system was tested successfully in multicriteria
quality control of technical devices and in a num-
ber of power systems. At present, the first stage of
this system is transferred to the end users (i.e.,
engineers and economists), said the speaker.
Complex Organizational- Technical Systems
V.N. Loginov (USSR) delivered a poster lecture,
entitled The Semantic Model of Synthesis of the
Governing and Coordinating Decisions in the Struc-
tures of the Government of the Complex Organiza-
tional-Technical System. The functioning of any
complex system can be understood by decompos-
ing it into two general processes: the acceptation
of the governing decisions and the fulfilment of
Conference Reports 167
executive actions. The complex system may then
be regarded as the sum total of two interactive
sub-systems where the general function of the sys-
tem elements is to fulfill executive actions. The
main aim of this lecture was to present a descrip-
tion of an elaborated semiotic model of this type of
structured systems.
h-Frame and Production Method
The development of intelligent decision-making
systems is seriously hampered by a lack of meth-
ods for compact knowledge representation about
the functioning and management of dynamic ob-
jects, according to V. Yatsuk (USSR) in a poster
presentation, entitled The Using of X-Frame and
Production Method in Intelligent Decision-Making
Systems Design. The speaker discussed the most
complicated parts of intelligent decision-making
systems, identified by him as "knowledge repre-
sentation" and "decision-making blocks".
Indirect Diagnostic Methods
To diagnosticize large systems one has to take
into account: sets of states, transfers from state to
state, conditions of functioning, and the most dif-
ficult problem of how to represent or determine
these sets, said V. Zakharov and A. Leviatov
(USSR). At present no effective classical approach
is known to solve these problems in a finite num-
ber of steps. The speaker approached a possible
solution on the basis of a generalized estimate of
the system 'workability', using fuzzy set theory.
Using Human Specifics
Decision-making in man-machine systems
(MMS) involves the formation and realization of a
number of functional procedures, said D.I. Shapiro
(USSR) in a poster presentation. Among them are:
idea formation, control, evaluation, selection,
teaching and analysis. Together with other uncer-
tainties which arise from the problem description
in concrete MMS there emerge uncertainties of a
more qualitative, fuzzy type. The latter involve
those uncertainties which emanate from the use of
text in describing situational data, criteria and
constraints, as well as from human specifics which
are manifest in procedures of idea formation,
evaluation, selection and teaching.
168 ConferenceReports
The speaker explained that a situational model
to develop rational recommendations has been
produced in which functional procedures are real-
ized through functional macroblocks 'idea forma-
tion', 'control evaluation', 'selection', 'teaching'
and 'analysis'. This presentation was entitled Deci-
sion-Making in Organizational and Technological
Systems Using Human Specifics.
Aid Device for Emergency Control
M. Bloznelis and M. Paulauskas (USSR) sug-
gested an aid device which is intended as a techni-
cal and intellectual help to (human) control in
emergency situations, as well as a substitute for
such control. The technical aid is given as display
or as another supply of potential solution oriented
advices, solution strategies, and of an ordered
action sequence to implement the chosen strategy,
explained the lecturer.
The speaker went on to say in this poster pre-
sentation that the mental help means that the
operator gets a performance algorithm, supple-
mentary information (as reinforcement to his ac-
tions) and some form of shared responsibility. The
speaker further discussed the structure of this con-
trol aid device and its implementation. In conclu-
sion the speaker reviewed the principles of local
and general classification, the choice of the control
strategy, and how to compile control orders for
human strategies.
Construction of Flight Schedules
The construction of a flight schedule necessi-
tates the solution of a multi-dimensional transpor-
tation problem. V.Z. Dachkovsky, V.V. Pozdnya-
kov and G.F. Yanbyh (USSR) gave an extensive
classification of the major problems, constraints
and requirements involved and attempted an ap-
proach to the solution of this specific problem by
using the method of "successive concessions", con-
sidering their approach a multistage manmachine
decision making process. The full title of this
poster presentation was Decision Making Proce-
dure in the Automated Process of Construction on a
Flight Schedule.
(ornputers in Industry
Session 4. Artificial Intelligence Applications
Augmented Transition Network Language
Nowadays, many natural language systems for
communication with casual users have been devel-
oped and practiced. However, implementation of
linguistic processors, supporting and conducting
the communication of such kind is a complicated
and tabor-consuming task. According to V. Khoro-
shevsky (USSR), one approach to this problem is
to use a special language for designing language
processors (i.e., a linguistic knowledge representa-
tion language).
Khoroshevsky felt that the advantage of this
approach is a clear cut distribution of application
tasks between hardware and software people, and
problem domain specialists.
Theorem Proving
W. Dilger and J. Muller (University of Kaisers-
lautern, Fed. Rep. of Germany) described the con-
nection graph proof method for the propositional
and the first order predicate calculus. The speaker
also introduced a special type of associative
processor. This processor is well suited for a
hardware implementation of the proof method for
the propositional calculus, according to the
speaker. The problems connected with the exten-
sion to first order logic were also sketched in the
lecture entitled An Associative Processor for Theo-
rem Proving.
Graphic Patterns on a Raster
In this poster presentation the questions of
automatic processing of graphic patterns (GP) ob-
tained as output of scanning devices, were dealt
with by Y.G. Vasin, O.A. Bashkirov and B.M.
Chudinovich. The speaker considered the notions
of raster connectivity, contour, adaptive compari-
son and filteration, and suggested on this basis a
mathematical model and classification algorithms
for GP on the raster. The speaker added that the
complexity of these problems consists mainly of
the large volumes of input information. The full
title of this presentation was The Mathematical
Model and the Algorithms for Processing of a
Graphic Pattern on a Raster.
Computers in Industry
Multi-dimensional Space Description and Simula-
tion
The project reviewed by F. Agostini (Milan
Polytechnic Artificial Intelligence Project, Italy) in
his lecture aims to achieve two purposes:
1. To formalize a simple and powerful language
for the geometric description of multi-dimensional
bodies and their manipulation. Here "multi-di-
mensional" also means four-dimensional (three-di-
mensional motion) and n-dimensional objects
according to memory constraints.
2. To build a machine that is able to understand
and to speak this language. Moreover, it should be
able to simulate space, and to translate this simu-
lation into pictures, or directly into motion, via
robots.
General Software for Manipulation Robots
This lecture was a general introduction to the
software package for computer-aided design and
control synthesis for manipulation robots which
has been developed in the Robotic Department of
"Mihailo Pupin" Institute, Beograd. M. Vukobra-
tovik, D. Stokik (Mihailo Pupin Institute, Yugo-
slavia) and V. Potkonjak (University of Belgrade,
Yugoslavia) first described the design of the
manipulation robot and then the software package
for the synthesis of manipulation control.
Problem Solving Complexity
This lecture, presented by G. Guida and M.
Somalvico (Milan Polytechnic, Italy) was devoted
to some new contributions in Problem Solving and
the Mathematical Theory of Complexity. These
belong to current research work on the Theory of
Problem Solving which is done at the Milan Poly-
technic Artificial Intelligence Project. The full title
of this lecture was Some Considerations on Problem
Soloing Complexity. The speaker proposed in this
invited lecture a formal integrated theory of prob-
lem solving and a foundation of a measure of
complexity in it.
Forming of Personal Oriented Problems
One of the major problems in developing AI
systems is to define problem stating and problem
solving methods tailored to the specialization and
Conference Reports 169
working style of the individual user. When creat-
ing a calculational-logic system, not all problem
formulations can be built in to it. The speaker,
V.L. Ven (USSR) said that these problem formula-
tions should reflect the multitude of situations
which appear when designing a concrete technical
system and working out a plan. The speaker iden-
tified these components of "flexible" calcula-
tional-logic systems and purposed a system design
in which optimization can be achieved through
repetitive sequences of problem solution, evalua-
tion of the solution and subsequent parameter
correction. The full title of this presentation was
Methods of Artificial Intelligence to Form Person-
ally Oriented Problems.
Artificial Taster Systems
The aim of the research which was presented in
the poster lecture Towards Artificial Taster Systems
(ATS), the Algorithmic and Instrumental Compo-
nents of A TS, is to build a system that can simu-
late the job of tasters. ATS are meant to answer
questions about changes in food quality which
occur due to different technological equipment or
storage conditions. M. T. Dmitritchenko, E.N.
Lazarev and D.A. Ugolev (USSR) discussed a for-
malization of what the problem taster has to do,
some algorithms, the instrumentation of the ATS
and, finally, some examples of the present ATS
and its perspective use.
Dialogue Conversation
When studying the problem of the computer's
understanding of natural language (NL) texts a
2-component model is usually considered, asserted
V.S. Fane and D.A. Philippova. The speaker went
on to explain that this model contains the text
which is considered something given, and an
"understander" (or a "receiver", using informa-
tion theory terminology) which is supplied with
means for linguistic text analysis and with an
extralinguistic data base. The speaker said that an
understander must produce an explication of the
"sense" which the text makes. However, the lec-
turer pointed out that this model lacks a funda-
mental component: the author of the text (its
'source'). After having proposed an interpretation
of what "understanding" is, the lecturer went on
to investigate which essential elements are neces-
170 ConferenceReports
sary for adequate reactions of the receiver on the
p e r c e i v e d text.
The proceedings of this conference have been
edited by V.M. Ponomaryov (Academy of Sciences,
USSR) and published by Pergamon Press, Ltd. un-
Robotic Intelligence and Productivity
The Conference on Robotic Intelligence and
Productivity, held November 18-19, 1983, in Detroit,
Michigan, USA, focussed on current developments
in Robotics and future research directions to en-
hance productivity through improved robotic intelli-
gence. The conference was organized by the De-
partment of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
Wayne State University, under the chairmanship of
M. Shaw. In his opening speech Mr. Shaw named
the vital areas which would be dealt with at the
conference. These included sensors and robot con-
trol systems, robotic intelligence and computer in-
tegrated manufacturing, productivity via intelligent
robotic systems, structural aspects of robot perfor-
mance, mobile robots in productivity, robotic lan-
guages, force feedback control with pattern re-
cognition techniques and machine vision research.
Fig. 1. Prof. M. Shaw
('omputers in Industry
der the title International Symposium on Artificial
Intelligence (1983. 170 pages, ISBN: 0-08-031130-X
(hard cover), price: US$180.000/£100.00). Copies
of these proceedings can be obtained from Per-
gamon Press Ltd., Headington Hill Hall, Oxford OX3
0BW, England.
The conference opened with a Keynote Address
presented by Louis R. Ross, Executive Vice Presi-
dent of Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, MI) on
"The Challenge of Industrial Automation." Mr. Ross
pointed out that the United States is engaged in an
industrial struggle that will determine the country's
future competitiveness. At present the country lags
in the commercial application of scientific dis-
coveries and technological advances. In order to
meet the challenge of industrial automation all ele-
ments of the production system should respond
and all sectors of the American society should par-
ticipate. According to Mr. Ross, the United States
must improve process viability and thereby improve
its manufacturing efficiency.
Presented below is a summary of the speeches
held at the conference.
..................... _l
Fig. 2. Dr. L.R. Ross