Q1. Explain the major components involved in expert system architecture.
An expert system is basically a computer program that works like a human expert, it helps to solve complex problems by using the knowledge and reasoning skills of specialists in a particular field.
Major Components of an Expert System
An expert system consists of three main components:
1. Knowledge Base
- This is the brain of the expert system. It contains the high-quality information gathered from human experts. It contains facts, rules, and information about a specific domain (like medical diagnosis or engineering problems). It is maintain by human experts and knowledge engineers.
Components of Knowledge Base:
- Factual Knowledge: General information of the domain that is widely accepted by the Knowledge Engineers.
- Heuristic Knowledge: It is a "rule of thumb", guessing, and accurate judgment derived from human experience.
2. Inference Engine
- The thinking part that applies logic. It takes information from the knowledge base and uses reasoning rules to solve complex problems.
It uses two methods:
- Forward Chaining: Starts with known facts and applies rules to see where they lead (Data-driven).
- Backward Chaining: Starts with a goal or hypothesis and works backward to see if the facts support it (Goal-driven).
3. User Interface
- The User Interface allows users to interact with the system. It displays questions, accepts input from the user, and display the result. It helps to manage user-system communication. It can range from a command-line to a graphical user interface.
A Simple Example : Medical Diagnosis
- User Interface: You type in, "I have a headache and a high fever."
- Inference Engine: It takes those symptoms and runs to the Knowledge Base.
- Knowledge Base: It finds a rule "If fever is high and headache is present, Then check the flu."
- Result: The system tells through the User Interface, "You might have the flue. Please see a doctor."