Page 194 - Concise Encyclopedia of Robotics

Logic
can be stored, representing the pliers as seen from various angles. The
vision system quickly scans the toolbox until it finds an image that
matches one of its images for pliers. This saves time compared with
trial and error, in which the robot picks up tool after tool until it finds
pliers.
The human eye/brain system uses local focus without conscious effort.
If someone is driving in a forest and sees a sign that says,“Watch for animals
crossing the road,”the driver will be on the lookout for animals on or near
the roadway. A tractor parked on the shoulder will not arouse interest,
but a horse will. The human eye/brain system can instantly tell animate
from inanimate objects.A robot controller with sophisticated local feature
focus, in conjunction with artificial intelligence (AI), can do the same.
See also OBJECT RECOGNITION and VISION SYSTEM.
LOGIC
Logic can refer to either of two things in electronics, computer science,
and artificial intelligence (AI).
Boolean algebra is the representation of statements as symbols, along
with operations, generating equations. This form of logic is important in
the design of digital circuits, including computers. Boolean algebra is a
form of deductive logic, because the conclusions are derived, or deduced,
in a finite number of steps.
In mathematical induction, a statement is proven true for a sequence
of cases. First, the statement is proved deductively for one case. Then
it is proved that if the statement is true for some arbitrary case, it is
true for the next case in the sequence. This implies truth for the whole
sequence, even if the sequence is infinite. Mathematicians consider this
perfectly rigorous and acceptable. For a thorough discussion of de-
ductive logic and mathematical induction, a text on symbolic logic is
recommended.
Trinary logic allows for a neutral condition, neither true nor false, in
addition to the usual true/false (high/low) states. These three values are
represented by logic 1 (false), 0 (neutral), and +1 (true). Trinary logic
can be easily represented in electronic circuits by positive,zero,and negative
currents or voltages.
In fuzzy logic, values cover a continuous range from “totally false,”
through neutral, to “totally true.”Fuzzy logic is well suited for the control
of certain processes. Its use will become more widespread as AI technology
advances. Fuzzy logic can be represented digitally in discrete steps; the
number of steps is usually some power of 2.
See also BOOLEAN ALGEBRA and LOGIC GATE.

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