Formal software development techniques applied to expert system production

The Information Technology Division at the Admiralty Research Establishment have been investigating the application of a knowledge-based approach as a means of alleviating the problems of increasing complexity within the naval command and control environment. One large scale project is an investigation of a blackboard system approach to tactical picture compilation. One set of methods that may prove to be usefully applicable to blackboard systems production are formal specification and development methods. Initial experiments involved applying a formal specification and development method called the Vienna Development Method (VDM). These experiments are outlined and the major stages in KBS development are described: knowledge acquisition; knowledge processing model and programming environment selection; knowledge base encoding; knowledge verification/validation; and software validation