1. Objectives: the project has two objectives:
• to develop a system to aid design houses such as Catalytic Inc. in the specification of process measurement and control instruments, primary elements and control valves - for Allied Fibers projects
• An advisory system to aid in assembling and reviewing cost estimates by engineers, and to aid in training junior people taking on this function.
2. The technological problems & risks:
Both of these applications are new targets for the application of AI and expert system technology. The main technological objective is to adapt the technology to be able to provide a functionally satisfactory and cost effective solution to the problems. Both problems include effective technology transfer. In the first case the knowledge transfer is from the client firm to the design house. In the second case the transfer is within the client firm - from senior engineers to junior engineers. In both cases the transfer of data is not sufficient, but transfer of decision making rules must be included.
The technological problem involves providing a computer assisted system which also has an "expert" interface that it can guide junior engineers through making correct decisions - ensuring that important alternatives are not overlooked, and that the junior engineers understand the logic and the relevant data.
Present expert system technologies and methodologies have to be adapted to fit the requirements (in line with the concepts discussed for the Meccano Set above).
3. Personnel:
The basic design and some of the development is done by Rainer von Königslöw acting as consultant, with technical support from Allied Fibers at the Virginia Tech Center.
4. Project status & plans:
The basic design and some of the requirements have been determined in a feasibility study. The project is awaiting approval for further development.