Prototype theory, inference, and a knowledge based system for satellite mission maintenance

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Prototype theory, inference, and a knowledge based system for satellite mission maintenance

Kornell, J.

A knowledge based system was built to encode knowledge about satellite mission maintenance for a major program of the Air Force Space Command. The thrust of the system was to respond to the question: What advice could be given by a computer system to Space Command personnel when a satellite subsystem has failed but the primary mission(s) of the satellite must be maintained? A comprehensive system architecture was developed, and a subset of that architecture, the Attitude Control subsystem, was built. A decision space which could accommodate up to 135000 rules was effectively spanned by about 250 rules. This was possible through an inference procedure more in tune with prototype theory than with traditional logic. Prototype theory holds that people reason by comparing perceptions to prototypes-typical, generalized exemplary concepts. Programmed inference influenced by prototype theory attempts to reason in an analogous fashion. Such an inference system was used to build the described demonstration system. The results were both satisfying and suggestive.