An automated knowledge acquisition system for model-based diagnostics

It is shown how knowledge acquisition can improve the design, production, and testing of complex electronic, mechanical, and hydraulic systems. A method for automating knowledge acquisition and integrating it into the design process is discussed. The author presents NASA´s CAD/CAE Knowledge Base Development Tool (KBDT) as a prototype for demonstrating the concept of automated knowledge acquisition. The basic structure of KBDT, and its operation and integration with NASA´S Knowledge-based Autonomous Test Engineer (KATE), are described. The combination of voice synthesis, voice recognition, natural language processing, and knowledge acquisition processing components, integrated using a blackboard architecture, is discussed