COMP 350 Syllabus for Artificial Intelligence                                Spring 2002

 

Week  1:  Introduction to AI and Languages

·        History and Issues of AI

·        Applications of AI

·        Criticisms of AI

·        Pragmatic Issues

·        Philosophical Issues

·        Social and Ethical Issues

·        History of LISP: Common Lisp

·        Overview of Mathematica 4.0

·        Numeric and Symbolic Processing in Lisp vs. Mathematica

 

Week  2:  Programming in Common Lisp and Mathematica

·        Lambda Notation and Function Writing

·        Functions and Scoping

·        Sequence Control: Conditionals

·        Character and String Processing

·        Recursion vs. Iterative Constructs

 

Week  3:  More Programming

·        Applicative and Mapping Functions

·        Destructive Modification of Structures

·        Property and Association Lists

·        Input and Output

·        Coding Efficiency and Programming Guidelines

 

Week  4:  Knowledge Representation and Pattern Matching

·        Human vs. Computer Memory Models

·        Predicate Notation and Extensions

·        Semantic Networks

·        Conceptual Dependency

·        Scripts

·        Frame Structures and Processing

·        Pattern Matching and Binding

·        Project Selection

 

Exam 1 (100 Points)

 

Week  5:  Search

·        Search Applications in AI

·        Unguided Search Methods: Depth-First vs. Breadth-First

·        Heuristic Search Methods: Best-First and A-Star

·        Competitive Search Methods: Minimax and Alpha-Beta

 

Week  6:  Natural Language Processing

·        Spoken Language

·        Written Language

·        Grammars

·        Language Understanding

·        Language Generation

 

Week  7:  Vision

·        Images and Stages of Visual Processing

·        Transforming 3-D Scenes into 2-D Images

·        Image Processing and Arrays

·        Early (Numeric) Processing

·        Late (Symbolic) Processing

 

Weeks  8-9:  Logic and Expert Systems

·        Logical Inference: Deduction

·        Plausible Inference: Induction and Abduction

·        The Idea of an Expert System

·        Rule-Based Systems

·        Forward and Backward Chaining

·        Certainty Factors

 

Exam 2 (100 Points)

 

Week  10-11:  Problem Solving, Planning, and Robotics

·        Phases of Problem Solving

·        Planning Methods

·        Manipulators

·        Simple Robot Programming

·        Sensors

·        Propelling Mechanisms

·        Autonomous Robots

 

Weeks  12-13:  Learning and Neural Networks

·        Machine Learning Models

·        Analogies and Induction

·        Computer vs. Brain Processing Models

·        Propagation and Activation Functions

·        Neural Network Concepts

·        Two-Layer Models

·        Hidden-Layer Models

 

Weeks  14-15:  Other AI Approaches and Presentations

 

Exam 3 (100 Points)


Course Goals: To gain an understanding of the approaches and techniques of artificial intelligence and to learn how to perform the necessary symbolic and numeric computations by using an appropriate programming language such as Common Lisp.  This course will emphasize independent and creative thinking.

 

 

Texts:  Artificial Intelligence with Common Lisp: Fundamentals of Symbolic and Numeric Processing, by James L. Noyes, D. C. Heath, 1992.  Mindware: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Cognitive Science, by Andy Clark, Oxford University Press, 2001.  Some recent journal readings will also be included.

 

 

Instructor:  J. L. Noyes, Science, Rm. 329B, 327-7858.  Office hours are posted on the door.

 

 

Meetings:  Three meetings will be conducted per week: MWF 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Room 321.

 

 

Assignments:  Both programming and non-programming assignments will be given on a regular basis.  Unless otherwise specified, these should be done independently.  These will be worth approximately 300 points.  Assignments will be accepted in class.  They may also be turned in to the Instructor’s office by 5:00pm on the day assigned with no penalty.  After that, up to 10% of the total points possible will be DEDUCTED per day late (including weekends).  Assignments will not be accepted after three (3) days unless there is some type of emergency situation and special arrangements are made ahead of time.  Late assignments should be slid under the office door (or under the department door, if it is locked) - be sure the Instructor’s name is on it.  For some assignments, collaboration may be permitted, for other assignments, it will not.  Each assignment will indicate if collaboration is permitted.  When collaboration is allowed, it is to only involve students in our class.  As stated above, if you receive assistance from someone else, be sure that you then understand how to do it yourself and can explain ALL of it.  You may contact me to answer questions, but no other type of collaboration is permitted.

 

 

Research Projects: One or two research projects with a presentation, some programming, and a typewritten report will be required.  This will be worth approximately 200 points and scheduled sometime during the last 2-3 weeks of class.  There will be no comprehensive final exam.

 

 

Exams: Three 1-hour 100-point exams will be given at relatively equal intervals during the course. Exams are typically (although not always) based upon what has been covered by lecture notes, previous labs, assignments, handouts, and text material.  Exams and possible quizzes CANNOT be taken later without a legitimately excused absence, which must be given in ADVANCE (e.g., death in the family, personal illness, class field trip, necessary Witt-sponsored activity).  This excuse is to be e-mailed to the instructor (jnoyes@wittenberg.edu) as far in advance as possible.

 

Implementation Languages: This course will utilize Allegro Common Lisp, Wolfram’s Mathematica, and Metrowerks C++.

 

 

Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty of any kind on homework or exams is not acceptable.  This includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism or unauthorized collaboration with another individual on homework or tests.  At a minimum it will typically result in a reduced score (typically 0) for all parties involved and it could result in a failing grade for this course.  In addition, there may be other University sanctions. See your Student Handbook for additional details regarding Academic dishonesty.