🚀 go-pugleaf

john wrote:
> 
> > I wrote: (Sorry, the attribution was lost earlier in the thread)
> >
> > you want to decide what your expert system would do. Then you think
> > a little about how to do it. That'll give you a better idea of how to
> > choose a language. For example, if your problem requires backward
> > chaining algorithm, you' naturally prefer Prolog.
> >
> > The first issue is: what does your Expert System do? What problem
> > can it solve, what situations do you see it being used in? What is
> > its "Domain"?
> 
> Using VB is somewhat a "constraint" for me.
> 
> As for the Expert system, I need to do it for a case study of an unreliable
> machines which requires the operator to be experienced. I will need to
> "capture" his decision, such as what to do when what problems/parameter
> occurs.

Sounds like it is very deterministic.

> How would you approach this problem? and what book(s) did you use when
> learning E.S?

It was too long ago for me to remember. Considering that you have a 
thesis to submit and no exam to pass, I recommend passing on the 
theory (Otherwise, try books by Marvin Minsky for a start.) From 
the little you described, the machine behaviour and responses can 
be captured in great detail. Trivial and extreme conditions 
can be handled as 

1. Special cases where the ES throws up its hands, displays a message 
   and beeps a lot. This is first pass.

2. Once the main ES is ready, you can attack these special cases again.

For the heart of the system which deals with the normal range of 
inputs and outputs (data and control) of the machine, you might 
be able to use decision tree structure. What you described sounds like 
an alternate representation that's more search-based. It also lends 
itself to some amount of fuzzy matching.

Using VB for this shouldn't be difficult.

It is too early to think in terms of data structures, in any language. It 
is only after you get a thorough understanding (and appreciation) of the 
nature of data you need to represent that the best DS to do it in can be 
decided. You can always seek advice here about appropriate DS once you 
understand your data and can explain it here.

Good luck.

-- 
MikeC

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