Increasingly, over the last few years, intelligent controllers have been incorporated into control systems. Presently, the numbers and types of intelligent controllers that contain variations of fuzzy logic, neural network, genetic algorithms or some other forms of knowledge based reasoning technology are dramatically rising. However, considering the stability of the system, when such controllers are included it is difficult to analyse and predict system behaviour under unexpected conditions. Leading researchers and industrial practitioners were able to discuss and evaluate current development and future research directions at the first IFAC International Workshop on safety, reliability and applications on emerging intelligent control technology. This publication contains the papers, covering a wide range of topics, presented at the workshop.

This set compiles more than 240 chapters from the world's leading experts to provide a foundational body of research to drive further evolution and innovation of these next-generation technologies and their applications, of which scientific, technological, and commercial communities have only begun to scratch the surface.

Paperback. The Symposium on Artificial Intelligence in Real-Time Control 97 (AIRTC '97) was the seventh in the series of symposia and workshops under the sponsorship of the International Federation of Automatic Control's (IFAC) Co-ordinating Committee in Computer Control and of the Technical Committee on Artificial Intelligence in Real-Time Control.Artificial Intelligence methods, including expert systems, artificial neural networks, fuzzy systems and genetic algorithms, are penetrating almost every field of engineering. These methods have shown their possible application in control, monitoring and supervising tasks which are difficult or impossible to solve when using conventional techniques. We have now come to a stage where there is a need to discuss and present these methods in a broader framework, not only showing their concepts and available algorithms, but also their relative benefits, advantages and disadvantages. This was the purpose of th

Paperback. Rapid development observed in modern production is firmly connected with the development of new assembly and disassembly systems. In small batch production, where fast changes of products and short development times of new products are demanded, development of reliable, fast-adaptable and self-teaching assembly systems can be observed. Important fields of product development such as product design, development of planning systems, simulation and modelling, logistics, mechatronics and sensors, development of new assembly system components as well as collecting and processing of knowledge are essential for the development of new intelligent assembly systems (IAS). The aim of this colloquium specialised on IAD is to highlight this topic, show the actual results of the research and development work, set the direction of future development and analyse the possibilities of introducing of IAD into the production process.Papers, presented at the w

The IFAC Workshop on Intelligent Components for Vehicles (ICV'98) was held in Seville (Spain), on March 23-24 1998. The event follows the Workshop on Intelligent Components for Autonomous and Semiautonomous Vehicles (ICASAV'95) held in Toulouse (France, October 1995). The main objective of ICV'98 was to bring together specialists on components and instruments for automotive systems, mobile robots and vehicles in general to enhance the value of their experience in both hardware and software intelligent components. Future vehicles will deal more and more with autonomous functions to improve safety and traffic management and to reduce consumption and pollution. Numerous on-board decision systems will replace the driver in critical running phases. The problems and solutions experienced, by adopting this new technology, will bring out many common points with other transportation systems and mobile robots. Research and Developments on Mobile Robotics have produced many components for perception, control and planning that can be used in vehicles for collision detection and avoidance, position estimation, guidance and manoeuvering aids for drivers, advanced teleoperation, and other applications. The topics of the Workshop are in an emerging field in which the research is quickly being converted into industrial products. Several applications in the automotive domain, marine vehicles, agricultural and others were included in the program. In addition to the presentation of the papers, ICV also included a plenary talk and a round table about intelligent components for future vehicles with the participation of several industrial companies.

These proceedings contain papers presented at the 3rd IFAC Symposium on Intelligent Autonomous Vehicles held in Madrid, Spain. The aim of the symposium was to present and discuss research and development on advanced applications in the field of land-based marine and aerospace intelligent autonomous vehicles. The papers describe not only new methods and technologies on solving classic problems related with intelligent autonomous vehicles, but also new approaches to their design, such as new architectures, topological navigation and self-learning systems.

The 7th International Conference on Computer Applications in Biotechnology (CAB7) was held in Osaka on May 31- June 4, 1998. CAB7 was the continuation of a successful series of conferences which addressed all major areas in which computers are used to aid process analysis, synthesis, supervision, diagnosis, operation, optimization, control and other biotechnological procedures. Essential bioprocess system engineering aspects ranging from metabolic engineering to the control of bioproduction plants were covered. CAB7 was supported by the International Federation of Automatic Control, the European Federation of Biotechnology, and the Society of Fermentation and Bioengineering, Japan. The scientific program was arranged in several sessions. Titles of the sessions were: Modeling, simulation, design and optimization of bioprocesses; Robotics in biotechnology; Knowledge engineering approaches for bioprocess operation; Computer application in metabolic engineering; Instrumentation and data processing; Cell culture engineering and clinical application; and Application to environmental engineering. Leading international figures in their fields presented papers of the latest information. All papers selected were reviewed with the assistance of the international organizing committee (IPC). In total, 94 high quality papers are complied in this volume.

Paperback. These proceedings contain the papers presented at the 3rd IFAC/CIGR Workshop on AI in Agriculture, held at Chiba in Japan during April 1998.Four major global issues, namely, a shortage of food, a shortage of fuel energy/natural resources, environmental pollution and instability of various ecosystems, will become increasingly critical in the early 21st century when the world population is predicted to reach nearly 10 billion.It is hoped that the papers included in these proceedings will contribute to solving the above global issues, improving the quality of research and widening the application fields of artificial intelligence in agriculture.

Technology is improving libraries and the services they offer -- but can your patrons find what they need on your library's OPAC? In this practical guide for librarians and systems designers, the authors describe various OPAC options and explain how users interface with them to obtain information.