PREFACE

This set of proceedings contains the most significant papers presented at the third IFAC Workshop on Artificial Intelligence in Real-time Control, which was held from September 23-25, 1991 in the USA

The IFAC series of workshops on this unique topic had its origin in the United Kingdom when the first event was held in Clyne Castle in the Welsh seaside city of Swansea. One of the first international forums for technical interchange on the use of artificial intelligence in the real-control domain, the workshop was an immediate success in terms of both technical quality and professional interest. The second workshop in the series was held in Beijing, China, and the third (represented here) in the wine country of northern California. Like the previous meetings, this workshop attracted an exceptional number of submitted papers. The selection criteria, as a result, were quite stringent, and the International Programme Committee concentrated on selecting papers which would form a comprehensive, solid basis for the workshop. In the IFAC tradition the number of delegates was carefully controlled so as to ensure maximum interaction. Nevertheless, 15 countries were represented among the 53 technical p‘articipants.

This workshop was characterized by a healthy, realistic view of the field. Practical and proven applications of AI in the real-time domain were emphasized in the paper sessions and in the interactive round-table discussions. The first day of the three-day event elicited one significant issue that kept recurring through subsequent discussions: the reliability and validation of AI systems, particularly in safety-related applications.

The earlier workshops in this series were categorised by papers with highly optimistic, and perhaps unrealistic, objectives. In this workshop, although there were still some “exotic” applications, a more- practical view of the applications and limitations of

current AI technology dominated the participants’ discussions.

Current AI techniques can offer mechanisms for integrating conventional control systems and enhancing them. AI methods can provide additional diagnostic and fault-finding capabilities and improve operator interfaces. Some of the application papers contained in these proceedings, particularly those from Japanese industry, illustrate the integrating capability which AI tools can offer.

In line with other events sponsored by the IFAC Technical Committee on Computers, this workshop series is succeeding in highlighting the important aspects of real time in advanced computer-control structures. The problems of utilizing AI techniques in real-time, deterministic systems are becoming evident, together with the need to be able to validate the performance and operation of these maturing AI methods. Specifically, considerations of human safety, legal liability, and public perceptions of technology have raised our awareness of the requirement for techniques to ensure the safety and reliability of intelligent systems. This conundrum still remains to be satisfactorily addressed. How does a designer who deliberately sets out to create tools which are capable of drawing their own conclusions, always ensure that these conclusions are safe and reliable?

With its resultant focus on reliability and safety considerations, the workshop posed as many questions as it answered. As a result, it provided an excellent mirror of the current state-of-the-art which these proceedings are intended to illustrate. Indeed, some papers have been deliberately included here because they are somewhat controversial. They illustrate some of the significant uncertainties and issues still facing us in selecting the appropriate technology for solving a particular problem.

M.G. RODD Chairman, International Organising Programme Committee

G.J. SUSKI Chairman, National Committee