Traditional artificial intelligence (AI) techniques are based around mathematical techniques of symbolic logic, with programming in languages such as Prolog and LISP invented in the 1960s. These are referred to as "crisp" techniques by the soft computing community. The new wave of AI methods seeks inspiration from the world of biology, and is being used to create numerous real-world intelligent systems with the aid of soft computing tools. These new methods are being increasingly taught at the upper end of the curriculum, sometimes as an adjunct to traditional AI courses, and sometimes as a replacement for them. Where a more radical approach is taken and the course is being taught at an introductory level, we have recently published Negnevitsky's book. Karray and Silva will be suitable for the majority of courses which will be found at an advanced level. Karray and de Silva cover the problem of control and intelligent systems design using soft-computing techniques in an integrated manner. They present both theory and applications, including industrial applications, and the book contains numerous worked examples, problems and case studies. Covering the state-of-the-art in soft-computing techniques, the book gives the reader sufficient knowledge to tackle a wide range of complex systems for which traditional techniques are inadequate.
Soft computing has changed the way we think about artificial intelligence. Its biology-inspired approach to intelligent systems design combines approximate reasoning, artificial neural networks and evolutionary computing to solve real-world problems where conventional "crisp" computing techniques may have limitations.
If you are studying soft computing, intelligent machines or intelligent control then this book will give you the theory you need together with a vast array of examples and practical material, providing you with a thorough grounding in this exciting field. Practising professionals will find the introductory material, application-oriented techniques and case studies especially helpful.
Key features
- Theory meets practice through numerous examples and solved real-world problems.
- Comprehensive case studies demonstrate a wide range of applications across science and engineering.
- Extensive coverage of intelligent systems design including intelligent control and time series prediction.
Fakhreddine Karray is Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo, Canada. He was Program Chair of the 2002 IEEE International Symposium on Intelligent Control, is Associate Editor of four related journals and writes extensively in the area.
Clarence de Silva is Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. He is Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Control and Intelligent Systems, writes extensively in the area and has served as a consultant for IBM and Westinghouse in the US.
