Evaluation of an expert system for fault detection, isolation, and recovery in the manned maneuvering unit

Rushby, John; Crow, Judith

The authors explore issues in the specification, verification, and validation of artificial intelligence (AI) based software, using a prototype fault detection, isolation and recovery (FDIR) system for the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU). They use this system as a vehicle for exploring issues in the semantics of C-Language Integrated Production System (CLIPS)-style rule-based languages, the verification of properties relating to safety and reliability, and the static and dynamic analysis of knowledge based systems. This analysis reveals errors and shortcomings in the MMU FDIR system and raises a number of issues concerning software engineering in CLIPs. The authors came to realize that the MMU FDIR system does not conform to conventional definitions of AI software, despite the fact that it was intended and indeed presented as an AI system. The authors discuss this apparent disparity and related questions such as the role of AI techniques in space and aircraft operations and the suitability of CLIPS for critical applications.

Document ID

19910008300

Document Type

Contractor Report (CR)

Authors

Rushby, John (SRI International Corp. Menlo Park, CA, United States)

Crow, Judith (SRI International Corp. Menlo Park, CA, United States)

Date Acquired

September 6, 2013

Publication Date

December 1, 1990

Subject Category

Report/Patent Number

Funding Number(s)

Distribution Limits

Public

Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Available Downloads

Name

Type

19910008300.pdf

STI

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Available Downloads