Knowledge-based systems for maintenance of mail processing equipment: an initial report

Since January 1987, the US Postal Service Office of Advanced Technology has been sponsoring research into the use of knowledge-based systems (KBS) for maintenance of mail processing equipment. Demonstrations presented in February 1988 have shown potential for using both KBS shells (GEN-X, KLAMShell) and standard AI (artificial intelligence) languages namely, Prolog to implement KBS to assist maintenance technicians. Demonstration systems have been created which incorporate databases and/or graphics to aid maintenance technicians in the repair of complex optical character reader/channel sorters. The authors detail the work in progress, which includes examining the potential for creating a KBS shell for maintenance of general postal equipment and examining the effects of KBS deployment on future equipment design