ECLIPS: An extended CLIPS for backward chaining and goal-directed reasoning
Peter V. Homeier, Thach C. Le · 1991
. Realistic production systems require an integrated combination of forward and backward reasoning to reflect appropriately the processes of natural human expert reasoning. A control mechanism that consists solely of forward reasoning is not an effective way to promptly focus the system's attention as calculation proceeds. Very often expert system programmers will attempt to compensate for this lack by using data to enforce the desired goal-directed control structure. This approach is inherently flawed in that it is attempting to use data to fulfil the role of control. This paper will describe our implementation of backward chaining in CLIPS, and show how this has shortened and simplified various CLIPS programs. This work was done at the Aerospace Corporation, and has general applicability. 1. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS The Aerospace Corporation has been using expert system technology since the mid-1980s, beginning with a system to diagnose anomalies in the attitude control system of the D...