COM3410/COM1410 Artificial Intelligence Problem Solving


Prof. Patrick Wang      pwang@ccs.neu.edu
Office 221 CN           Tel. 617-373-3711
Office Hours: Tu: 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Introduction

Weekly schedule

Course administration and rules

Computing resources

Homework assignments and other course materials

I. Introduction

This course introduces you to AI methods for modeling and implementing intelligent behavior in computers.   The focus of the course is on techniques for representing  knowledge about the world in formal, computer-understandable languages and creating programs that seek to achieve goals and/or solve problems within these knowledge frameworks.

The two major approaches we will study are:

We will consider some applications of these ideas, in expert advisory systems, planning systems, 3D object recognition systems, and natural language systems.

We will also briefly consider some alternative approaches such as semantic nets, frames, conceptual graphs, and case-based reasoning systems.

A preferred language for this course is the ability to program in Common Lisp on Unix.  A good introductory book on Lisp is ANSI Common Lisp by Paul Graham (Prentice Hall 1996).  A full description of the Common Lisp language can be found in
Common Lisp the Language, 2d Edition, by Guy Steele.

The textbook for this course is "ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: STRUCTURES AND STRATEGIES FOR COMPLEX PROBLEM SOLVING" 4th Edition, by George F. Luger, Addison Wesley publisher.  (Please get the 2002 4th edition.)

II. Weekly Schedule

Week          Topic                                          Reading Assignment
----       ----------------------------                      ------------------
1         Introduction to AI                                   Chapter 1 - 2.0
          Representing world knowledge                         Chapter 6.0-6.2
          AI programming in Lisp                              

2         Propositional and Predicate Logic                    Chapter 2.1 - 2.2
          Logical Inference                                    Chapter 2.3 - 2.4
          Assignment 1:                                       
            Representation and reasoning in semantic nets
            and logic

3         State Space representation and simple search         Chapter 3

4         Heuristic Search                                     Chapter 4.0-4.2
         

5         Theorem proving                                      Chapter 12.0-12.3
          Review for Midterm Exam

6         MIDTERM EXAM
          Problem-solving                                      Chapter 5

7         Expert Systems                                       Chapter 7.0-7.2
         
                Chapter 15.9-15.10

8         AI planning                                          Chapter 7.4

9         Natural Language Processing                          Chapter 13

10        Alternative reasoning models(Class Presentation(I)) Sec. 7.3, 8.0-8.1
         
          Review for Final Exam

11        Final (Class Presentation (II)), March 10-14, 2003
 

III. Course administration and rules

There will be 3 homework assignments of varying credit depending on difficulty, a 90 minute midterm exam, and a  final exam.  The final will count 30% of  the course grade, the homework 40%, the midterm 25%, and class attendance/participation 5%.  However, you  must pass all three aspects of the course (the homework and the exams and class attendance/participation) to pass the course.

Exams are open book, open notes.   Students MAY NOT share books, notes, calculators or any other items during exams.

Homework will be a combination of written and programming exercises. Homework  assignments are INDIVIDUAL assignments unless you are clearly told otherwise - it is not acceptable to turn in  the same homework paper or program as another person.

Any instances of unauthorized sharing or copying on homework or exams will be reported to the Dean for appropriate action.

 Normally, failure to turn in an assignment or take an exam results in a  grade of 0 for that assignment.  Under extraordinary circumstances, your  grade on the final exam may be used to replace the missed assignment.

 No one will be excused from taking the final exam, so please do not  schedule a vacation or business trip on that day.