Building Problem Solvers

For nearly two decades, Kenneth Forbus and Johan de Kleer have
accumulated a substantial body of knowledge about the principles and practice of
creating problem solvers. In some cases they are the inventors of the ideas or
techniques described, and in others, participants in their
development.

Building Problem Solvers
communicates this knowledge in a focused, cohesive manner. It is unique among
standard artificial intelligence texts in combining science and engineering, theory
and craft to describe the construction of AI reasoning systems, and it includes code
illustrating the ideas.

After working through Building
Problem Solvers, readers should have a deep understanding of pattern
directed inference systems, constraint languages, and truth maintenance systems. The
diligent reader will have worked through several substantial examples, including
systems that perform symbolic algebra, natural deduction, resolution, qualitative
reasoning, planning, diagnosis, scene analysis, and temporal reasoning.