Expert system for SROOT

The development of an expert system in the domain of computer-aided control systems design is presented. An expert system has been developed and incorporated into an existing control systems design package called SROOT. The combined software is used to design linear single variable systems using the root locus techniques. The expert system provides software-based design expertise involving control theory, visual aspects of graphical outputs and engineering heuristics. Two new components for the expert system are introduced. These are the two types of facts used and a firing order unit. The former enables rules to be written in a generally-applicable format. The latter provides a systematic way of applying expertise. An overall design heuristic which supports the design of lead/lag compensators for the systems considered is introduced. A design example is given to exhibit the capability of the expert system