A Qualitatively Fuzzy Expert System (KASER) for Tutoring First Principles of Crystal-LASER Design

摘要

A new type of qualitatively fuzzy expert system shell (i.e., KASER) is applied to a tutoring problem. The shell facilitates reasoning using domain-specific expert knowledge as well as commonsense qualitative knowledge. The shell accomplishes this through object-classed predicates and an associated novel inference engine. The KASER addresses the high cost associated with the knowledge acquisition bottleneck. It enables the entry of a basis of rules and provides for the automatic extension of that basis through domain symmetries. A tutor pertaining to first principles of crystal-LASER design has been prototyped using the KASER shell. It enables the student to experiment with different concepts in design and receive possibilistic feedback on the functionality of the proposed design. This is possible without having to preprogram every possible scenario.