mrowe@snow-white.merit-tech.com (12/09/89)
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NAME/VERSION: MeriTool(tm) C version 2.01 and Ada version 1.0
PRESENT STATUS: supported product
[COST]: Varies as a function of target platform. Educational discounts
are available.
CONTACT:
Merit Technology Inc
5068 W. Plano Parkway
Plano, Texas 75093
phone (214) 248-2502
email mrowe@snow-white.merit-tech.com
AVAILABILITY: for license: distributed on floppies or tape.
[INTENDED USERS]: software engineers
[DOMAIN/CATEGORY(IES)]: flexible
REPRESENTATION FORMALISMS (3 items, 6 lines):
- Objects with Attributes. Attributes have Values (and optionally)
Confidence Factors.
- Rules that permit forward and backward chaining inference using a
supplied conflict resolution strategies (to enforce firing order).
- User written functions (C, Ada, Fortran, ...) may be called from the
premise or conclusion of a rule to supply or modify attribute values.
BASE LANGUAGE: C and Ada versions are currently available.
OS/HARDWARE: MS-Dos/ PC with 256KBytes. [also SUNs, Silicon Graphics,
HP-9000s, VAXen]
[SYSTEM INTERFACES]:
MeriTool is structured as a set of library routines (tool kit) that can
be linked into a user's application written in C or Ada. User may compose
the rule set using their favorite ASCII editor (like emacs or vi) or the
syntax sensitive MeriTool Editor.
[USER INTERFACES]:
Any package that can be called from the application source language can
be interfaced.
[SHORT DESCRIPTION (15 lines)]:
MeriTool is an extension to a programming language. It features:
- High speed performance (Monkeys & Bananas benchmark 0.11sec on 8MHz AT)
- Embeddable, modular functionality
- Both C and Ada versions are available on computers including:
Sun 3s, HP-9000s, Silicon Graphics, compatible PCs/ATs, and VAXen
- English like rule language based on object-attribute-value relationships
- Forward and Backward chaining inference
- Simple, extensible explanation capabilities,
- Easy-to-implement and efficient user function calls to (Ada, C, Fortran)
and databases.
- Very efficient internal knowledge representation (hundreds of rules and
object instantiations on a 640KByte PC).
- Rule set debug facilities include step-by-step tracing of rule
satisfactions, rule firings, and object-attribute-value changes.
[COMPATIBILITY]: we have written custom (one shot) rule set translators.
[EFFICIENCY]: MeriTool, as a tool kit, incorporates only the features that
are used into its run-time executable. This provides for both speed and
memory efficiencies. Monkey's & Bananas executes in 128KBytes in 0.11
seconds on a 8Mhz MS-Dos compatible AT. (additional memory was needed
to support an editor).
We would like to hear about any standard rule sets that are available to
benchmark -- it seems like most rule sets are either toys or proprietary.
[NUMBER OF INSTALLATIONS]: > 25
[APPLICATIONS (3 items, 12 lines)]:
STRC: USAF B-52 and B-1 Strategic Bomber Test Range. MeriTool analyzes air-
crew mission performance on simulated bombing runs and their reactions
to various simulated ground based threats. MeriTool then prepares and
presents a debriefing (including tutorials on weak points) for the crew.
PACMA: MeriTool analyzes incoming messages for content, syntax, and clarity
for a government agency. When errors are correct, the MeriTool rule set
attempts to correct them.
TACTICAL PILOT MODEL: Merit has developed an inference-based tactical pilot
model which handles aircraft flight, sensor, and weapons controls. The
model has been used to provide threat evaluation information and response
recommendations to a pilot and to control a very large number (100s) of
aircraft in realistic scenarios.
[FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS]:
- A parallel version has been developed and is under test for the BBN
Butterfly Plus parallel computer.
- We have had generally good results porting MeriTool to computers/OS
that support a fully implemented C or Ada environment.
- Speed mods as they are discovered.
- 1750 and GVHSIC versions are planned.
- Enhanced user interface.
[RELATED WORK]: OPS (modified Rete based inference)
[REFERENCES (3 items)]:
- Labhart and Williams, ADA MERITOOL: A SOFTWARE TOOL FOR KNOWLEDGE-BASED
SYSTEMS, AiDA: Artificial Intelligence and Ada Conference, November 1989.
- Labhart, Rowe, Bechtel, Jesson and Matney, PIPER: A PARALLEL INFERENCE
ENGINE FOR THE BUTTERFLY MULTI-COMPUTER, American Institute of Aeronautics
and Astronautics Annual Computers in Aerospace Conference VII, May 1989.
- Sipps, Watkins, Ziegler, Jernigan and Bechtel, INTELLIGENT MISSION
PLANNING, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Annual
Computers in Aerospace Conference VII, May 1989.
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