A model-based approach for organizing quantitative computations

Model based reasoning (MBR) is currently receiving wide spread attention because it offers a way to circumvent the brittleness of reasoning systems built solely on associational knowledge. To date, most MBR approaches have focused on the use and manipulation of qualitative models. The authors report their experience in applying techniques of functional reasoning to the general problem of organizing quantitative calculations. As a testbed, they have solved a problem initially posed at the Model-Based Diagnosis workshop (Paris, July, 1989): representing an automotive cruise control system. The results show that the principles of the functional reasoning approach can provide leverage in device domains characterized by quantitative data. A discussion of the current state of research in model based reasoning is included