Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watnot!watmath!clyde!rutgers!lll-lcc!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!praxis.UUCP!mct From: mct@praxis.UUCP.UUCP Newsgroups: mod.ai Subject: Re: Oxymoron: Real-time Knowledge-Based Nurse/Nuclear Plant Operator Message-ID: <21910.8703271020@newton.praxis.co.uk> Date: Fri, 27-Mar-87 05:20:41 EST Article-I.D.: newton.21910.8703271020 Posted: Fri Mar 27 05:20:41 1987 Date-Received: Sat, 28-Mar-87 17:54:36 EST References: <8703250728.AA21290@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Reply-To: mcvax!ukc!praxis!mct@...seismo (Martyn Thomas) Distribution: world Organization: Praxis Systems plc, Bath, UK Lines: 30 Keywords: Formal methods. Quality Assurance. Approved: ailist@sri-stripe.arpa Summary: Agreement. Safety-critical systems should be rigorously verifiable In article <8703250728.AA21290@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> lugowski%resbld@ti-csl.CSNET writes: > I wouldn't trust AI techniques with monitoring large dynamic >systems of the class of a medium-sized municipal toilet. I would certainly >want out of any ICU where my fragile well-being did not depend on an ICU >nurse, overworked as though he or she may be. The AI community has had up >to now the good sense of relegating its really questionable achievements to >the battlefield, where they are fondly appreciated. Let's not get too greedy >by introducing the battlefield to our rather safe nuclear plants and ICUs. > > -- Marek Lugowski > Texas Instruments > lugowski%crl1@ti-csl.csnet I strongly agree. Any safety-critical system should have certain characteristics: it should be rigorously specified (AT LEAST the safety aspects); it should be possible to reason rigorously about the implementation, to convince others that it matches the specification; it should be developed using QC/QA techniques that guarantee an audit trail so that any faults discovered after development can be traced to their cause. These considerations dictate the use of mathematically rigorous methods, and a certified Quality Assurance regime. Does anyone know of an AI system which measures up? Please reply by mail - I'll summarise. Martyn Thomas mct%praxis.uucp@ukc.ac.uk Praxis Systems plc ...seismo!mcvax!ukc!praxis!mct 20 Manvers Street, Tel: +44 225 335855 BATH BA1 PX England. Fax: +44 225 65205 (Groups 2&3)