Environment and Methodology for Real-Time Knowledge-Based Systems

REAKT - 5146

Keywords knowledge-based systems, real-time applications, temporal reasoning, process control

Start Date: 01-OCT-90 / Duration: 48 months

This project is being continued as 7805.

Objectives and Approach

The primary objective of the REAKT and REAKT II project is to develop a set of tools and the associated methodology for applying knowledge-based systems in real-time domains. The project was to produce definitions, specifications and prototypes of various techniques, to be eventually integrated into a toolkit for the efficient development, deployment and maintenance of knowledge-based modules embeddable into real-time applications. Research areas of particular interest include progressive reasoning techniques, which are identified as a key element to provide guaranteed response time, as well as temporal reasoning and coherence management mechanisms. The methodological work is mainly focussed on the implications of real-time issues on the modelling and development of knowledge-based systems.

A demonstrator system in the area of process control has been chosen to validate both the toolkit and the methodology. Its components exhibit various real-time characteristics in order to demonstrate that the technology is flexible enough to span a large domain of operations. By the end of a follow-on project, 7805, the set of tools and the methodology it will provide should increase the range of applications in which real-time knowledge-based systems could be integrated, thus increasing the market size for both this kind of products and the applications built on top of them.

Progress and Results

The major achievements so far are:

A multi-agent, multi-task real-time architecture based on the Blackboard model. The REAKT runtime architecture extends this model along several directions to provide a system adapted to real-time operations: new features include multitasking, continuous data acquisition capabilities, interrupt handling, deadline management, progressive deepening, temporal reasoning and data obsolescence management.
A methodology adapted to real-time issues. This methodological support consists of both application-oriented guidelines and associated computer tools. The REAKT Application Methodology has chosen as a basis KADS, and has extended it to provide support for reusability and real-time issues.
Knowledge compilers, supporting several knowledge formalisms (rules, objects), to translate the REAKT user language into procedural source code. The generated code can then be compiled and linked with a runtime library to produce an executable. The target language which has been chosen is C++, for both efficiency and portability reasons. This approach allows easy integration of the code produced for a REAKT application with existing software through simple link edition.
An on-line alarm management demonstrator to be integrated in the process control system of a large oil refinery. The demonstrator provides four main functionalities: alarm management, fault diagnosis, alarm filtering through predictions and alarm prevention.

Exploitation

The project has produced a number of interesting algorithms and techniques to support the development of RTKBSs. The project will now mainly focus on the consolidation of the REAKT Toolkit into a complete product,including graphical interfaces and debugging support. Integration in a CASE tool is also planned. The precise definition of exploitation plans will be undertaken. The installation and on-site validation of the MORSAF demonstrator is also planned.

CONTACT POINT

Mr A. Mensch
THOMSON-CSF RCC
160, Bd de Valmy BP 82
F - 92704 Colombes Cedex
tel: + 33 1 41 30 45 91
fax: + 33 1 41 30 35 05
email: antoine_mensch@eurokom.ie

Participants

THOMSON-CSF - F - C
COMPUTAS EXPERT SYSTEMS A/S - N - P
ETNOTEAM SPA - I - P
GRUPO DE MECANICA DEL VUELO SA - E - P
MARCONI COMMAND & CONTROL
SYSTEMS LTD - UK - P
CRIN - F - A
UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA
DE VALENCIA - E - A
SYSECA - F - A

REAKT - 5146, December 1993

please address enquiries to the ESPRIT Information Desk

html version of synopsis by Nick Cook