Masaki Arao

Fuzzy database language and library-fuzzy extension to SQL

The authors outline the specification of a fuzzy database language called Fuzzy SQL and the FDL2 C library which is used to implement the Fuzzy SQL processor. The Fuzzy SQL language is an extension obtained from standard SQL using fuzzy theory. The specification includes both the data definition language and the data manipulation language. FDL2 was designed to be built in a fuzzy database management system with a conventional database management system. FDL2 was implemented using the C language on an OMRON LUNA88K workstation.<<ETX>>

Flexible intelligent system based on fuzzy neural networks and reinforcement learning

Intelligent systems have been proposed for control, recognition, man machine interfaces and other applications. In order to apply intelligent systems, the system must have the flexibility for environmental change and tasks. Recently, fuzzy systems, neural network applied systems and heuristic approaches have been utilized in intelligent systems. These systems are eagerly researched by many researchers. However these intelligent systems without hierarchical structure of intelligence would be difficult to adapt for environmental changes and various tasks. The flexible intelligent system proposed is based on a hierarchical intelligent system architecture. The top layer generates the control trajectory or strategies, the middle layer manages the skills of the tasks, and the bottom layer handles the controlled objects.<<ETX>>

Toward an information-integrated control system—the control-theoretic view of intelligent control technology

Recent computing technology is providing alternative strategies for the functionality and implementation of controllers for practical complex systems. An important issue will be how to integrate all information about control problems. In this paper, we present the control-theoretic view of intelligent control technology, and discuss a paradigm for an information-integrated control system.

Eddy Current System for Finding Distal Transverse Screw Holes of an Intramedullary Nail

This report describes an eddy current system for finding distal transverse screw holes of an intramedullary nail. Although conventional X-ray methods can visualize screw holes in the bone, they pose a danger due to X-ray exposure. Therefore, a system to find screw holes without X-ray exposure is required. This problem was solved using an eddy current system and applying a method that calculates local maximum values of the searching signal obtained by the eddy current system. Characteristics of screw holes were revealed in the waveform and amplitude of the searching signal. As a result, the screw hole positions could be identified within an error of 1.3 mm when the distance between the probe and the intramedullary nail was 4 mm.

Problem Formalization and Problem Solving Approach based on Fusion Model

The quadrant for problem formalization is introduced based on problem definition and structure. Problem formalization has significant influence on not just for satisfying reasonable cost and performance but also conforming problem solving approach. Based on the quadrant, problem solving approach is discussed with considering the fusion model of human experts’ domain knowledge and field data. The fusion model plays an important role in problem solving stages of Learning and Execution. Auditory-based product inspection systems as real world problems are studied with considering problem formalization concepts and the fusion model.

Interpretation in physical interaction between human and artificial emotional creature

Recent advances in robotics have been applied to automation in industrial manufacturing, with the primary purpose of optimizing practical systems in terms of such objective measures as accuracy, speed, and cost. This paper introduces research on artificial emotional creatures that seeks to explore a different direction that is not so rigidly dependent on such objective measures. The goal of this research is to explore a new area in robotics, with an emphasis on human-robot interaction. There is a large body of evidence that shows the importance of the interaction between humans and animals such as pets. We have been building pet robots, as artificial emotional creatures, with the subjective appearance of behaviors that are dependent on internal states as well as external stimuli from both the physical environment and human beings. The pet robots have multimodal sensory system, actuators, and bodies with artificial skin for physical interaction with human beings.

A Study of Progressive Solution to Data Distribution Maturity Problem at Product Inspection Stage of Manufacturing

Production lines are alive because the important factors of production such as man, machine, material, method, and environment (4M+E for short) change suddenly and continuously. The change causes serious obstacles to achieving the requirements of quality, cost, and delivery (QCD for short). In this article, a progressive solution to the production change problem is proposed and discussed. The target is product inspection of production process. The problem to be solved here is to acquire the inspection model and criteria from multivariate data set extracted from sensing data. The change of 4M + E and QCD in production is reflected in the data distribution; i.e., sophistication of production process is strongly connected with data distribution maturity. The proposed method is to fuse one class SVM as a non-parametric method and MTS as a parametric method according to the data distribution maturity. Experiments were conducted to evaluate performance of the proposed method.

Design of additive models using hybrid soft computing approaches

An indispensable ability for intelligent control is to comprehend and learn about plants, disturbances, environment, and operating conditions. In this paper, a modified probabilistic incremental program evolution (MPIPE) algorithm and a random search algorithm are used as a promising tool for such purposes. In order to identify and evolve the structure and parameters of the additive models simultaneously, a hybrid method is proposed, in which the MPIPE is used for the identification of structure of the additive models, and the parameters used in additive models are optimized by a random search algorithm. Simulation results for the identification of linear/nonlinear systems show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.

Fusion Model and Human-Machine Collaborative Solution for Automated Sensory Inspection Systems

Manufacturing processes are actually alive because the factors of the processes changes continuously and suddenly. In response to the change problems, sophisticated knowledge of skilled human experts has been applied to solve them flexibly. However, this kind of solution is subjective, inconsistent, and dependent on certain experts. Deskilling is a key to realize stable manufacturing with reasonable quality, cost, and delivery. Many types of automated systems have been deployed at the manufacturing process for realizing the deskilling. However, there still remain problems in flexibility against the changes. In this article, an automated sensory inspection system is employed to discuss the problems and the flexible solution against the changes. Based on the discussion, two types of solutions are proposed. The first one is fusion model and the second, human-machine collaborative decision making. Both solutions are considering the data distribution maturity in the manufacturing line.

MIND MODEL AND SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE IN HUMAN-MACHINE COLLABORATIVE SYSTEMS

Abstract Even though social intelligence has not been clearly defined yet, consideration of this new type of intelligence should be important for realizing a new generation of human-machine collaborative systems based on human-centered system design policy. In this article, social intelligence and mind model for implementing socially intelligent agents are studied. At first, emotional and affective aspect of social intelligence is mainly discussed because the aspect is considered as more important in contrast with goal-oriented intelligence. Then, implementation of the mind model and its application as an experiment system is discussed with considering the experiment results.