Ricardo Luís de Freitas

Fuzzy distributed artificial intelligence systems

In this paper, we introduce a fuzzy distributed artificial intelligence (FDAI) approach. Through the use of fuzzy logic, we have been able to develop mechanisms that we feel may effectively improve current DAI systems, giving much more flexibility and providing the subsidies which a formal theory can bring. The appropriateness of the FDAI approach is explored in an important application, a fuzzy distributed traffic-light control system, where we have been able to aggregate and study several issues concerned with fuzzy and distributed artificial intelligence. We also present a number of current research directions necessary to develop the FDAI approach more fully.<<ETX>>

Intelligent Real-Time Traffic Control

The task of controlling urban traffic requires flexibility, adaptability, and handling of uncertain information spread through the urban network. The use of fuzzy sets, case-based mechanisms, and genetic algorithms in a distributed system framework can provide the necessary foundations for an efficient and adaptable on-line traffic control system. In this paper we present a distributed traffic control system built upon a fuzzy, adaptive framework. A traffic network consisting of 16 traffic lights in six intersections was implemented and compared with conventional traffic control approaches. Simulation results show that the distributed system outperforms current traffic engineering strategies.

An Explanation Tool to Support Learning of Basic Programming

Intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) have assisted engineering students in several domains. The domains considered ideal for ITS contain easily represented issues in computational form and allow the interaction type between student and ITS be limited to a restricted set of words, symbols, and numbers. It is proposed to exploit intelligent system technology to support an explanation process in the context of ITS. A system was developed to support explanations of examples to assist the learning process of basic programming. Examples of C programs, previously elaborated by a teacher, are presented to a student from who are expected explanations to source-code regions. Using techniques of approximate natural language understanding, the system tries to recognize explanation contents to send the result to a module that classifies explanations as correct, incorrect, or incomplete according to the context of the proposed activity. The context can be configured by the teacher. After explanation processing, an ITS could determine the subsequent stages according to its educational strategy

Information Retrieval in Wikis Using an Ontology

This article addresses a question regarding relevant information in a social media such as a wiki that can contain huge amount of text, written in slang or in natural language, without necessarily observing a fixed terminology set. This text could not always be adherent to the discussed subject. The main motivation leads to the need of developing methods that would allow the extraction of relevant information in such scenario. A result system was designed upon ideas from the semantic Web combined with an adaptation of the classic vector model for information retrieval. The semantic information is not embedded in the media but within a structurally independent ontology. It was implemented using Java and a MySQL database. The objective was the achievement of, at least, 80% for recall and precision on the system results. The system was considered successful by achieving rates of 100% of recall and approximately 93% of precision.

Engineering capstone project an individual approach

This article presents a capstone project (CP) approach based on a two-semester effort developed individually to build up and reinforce skills fostered during a computer-engineering curriculum. The CP result is an artifact to be inserted in a context, which is developed, under guidance and monitoring. Besides the student, there are other three roles involved: the advisor for methodological issues; the co-advisor, for technical issues; and the client, to be the source for context knowledge. The student is responsible by planning, developing and managing the project, reporting it in a monograph that is presented in a public defense together with the artifact. The artifact must present a level of complexity that allows measuring some considered major skills. Student and co-advisor choose a methodology for the development effort, whose activities are planned and scheduled. The student should identify open problems in the considered context. One of these problems is chosen as an objective, which should be assessed. Assessment is considered an important issue in the development process. Results are promising: artifacts became real solutions, some even patented; students began graduation because of their CPs or were invited to work because of the acquired knowledge and skills; and students succeed with high self esteem and better communication skills.

Retrieving Wiki Content Using an Ontology

This chapter addresses a question regarding relevant information in a social media such as a wiki that can contain huge amount of text, written in slang or in natural language, without necessarily observing a fixed terminology set. This text could not always be adherent to the discussed subject. The main motivation leads to the need of developing methods that would allow the extraction of relevant information in such scenario. A result system was designed upon ideas from the semantic Web combined with adaptive mechanisms and a modification of the classic vector model for information retrieval. The semantic information is not embedded in the media but within a structurally independent ontology. It was implemented using Java and a MySQL database. The objective was the achievement of, at least, 80% for recall and precision on the system results. The system was considered successful by achieving rates of 100% of recall and approximately 93% of precision.