Experiments with microcomputer-based artificial intelligence environments

Conference · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · J. Int. Assoc. Math. Geol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6407611

Summers, E G; MacDonald, R A

The US Geological Survey (USGS) has been experimenting with the use of relatively inexpensive microcomputers as artificial intelligence (AI) development environments. Several AI languages are available that perform fairly well on desk-top personal computers, as are low-to-medium cost expert system packages. Although performance of these systems is respectable, their speed and capacity limitations are questionable for serious earth science applications foreseen by the USGS. The most capable artificial intelligence applications currently are concentrated on what is known as the artificial intelligence computer, and include Xerox D-series, Tektronix 4400 series, Symbolics 3600, VAX, LMI, and Texas Instruments Explorer. The artificial intelligence computer runs expert system shells and Lisp, Prolog, and Smalltalk programming languages. However, these AI environments are expensive. Recently inexpensive 32-bit hardware has become available for the IBM/AT microcomputer. USGS has acquired and recently completed Beta-testing of the Golf Hill Systems 80386 Hummingboard, which runs Common Lisp on an IBM/AT microcomputer. Hummingboard appears to have the potential to overcome many of the speed/capacity limitations observed with AI-applications on standard personal computers. USGS is a Beta-test site for the Gold Hill Systems GoldWorks expert system. GoldWorks combines some high-end expert system shell capabilities in a medium-cost package. This shell is developed in Common Lisp, runs on the 80386 Hummingboard, and provides some expert system features formerly available only on AI-computers including frame and rule-based reasoning, on-line tutorial, multiple inheritance, and object-programming.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Reston, VA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6407611
• Report Number(s): CONF-8704137-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: J. Int. Assoc. Math. Geol.; (United States) Journal Volume: 20:8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580203* -- Geophysics-- Geophysical Survey Methods-- (1980-1989)
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990210 -- Supercomputers-- (1987-1989)
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
COMPUTERS
DECISION MAKING
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
EXPERT SYSTEMS
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
KNOWLEDGE BASE
MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
MICROPROCESSORS
PERFORMANCE
PROGRAMMING
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
SURVEYS