Page 14 - Innovations in Intelligent Machines

Intelligent Machines: An Introduction

Lakhmi C. Jain , Anas Quteishat , and Chee Peng Lim ∗∗
∗
∗∗
School of Electrical & Information Engineering ∗
University of South Australia
School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering ∗∗
University of Science Malaysia

Abstract. In this chapter, an introduction to intelligent machine is presented.
An explanation on intelligent behavior, and the difference between intelligent and
repetitive natural or programmed behavior is provided. Some learning techniques
in the field of Artificial Intelligence in constructing intelligent machines are then
discussed. In addition, applications of intelligent machines to a number of areas
including aerial navigation, ocean and space exploration, and humanoid robots are
presented.

1 Introduction
“Intelligence” is an expression commonly used for humans and animals, and
only until recently for machines. But what is intelligence? How can we say that
this creature or machine is intelligent? Indeed, a lot of explanations and defi-
nitions for intelligence exist in the literature. Among them, a comprehensible
excerpt from [1] with respect to intelligence is as follows.

“A very general mental capability that, among other things, involves
the ability to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, compre-
hend complex ideas, learn quickly and learn from experience”
In general, it is believed that the main factors involved in “intelligence” are
the capabilities of autonomously learning and adapting to the environment.
So, unless the creature or machine learns from its environment, it may not be
considered as intelligent. An interesting example is the behavior of the digger
wasp, a Sphex ichneumoneus insect [2]. When the female wasp returns to its
hole with food, she will first leave the food at the threshold and go inside the
hole to check for intruders. If there is no intruder, she will take the food inside.
However, if the food is moved, say a few inches, from the original position,
she will put the food back on the threshold, go inside, and check for intruders
again. The same procedure is repeated again and again if she found the food
is displaced. This shows that the element of intelligence, i.e. ability to adapt
to new circumstances, is missing in this behavior of the Sphex insect.

L.C. Jain et al.: Intelligent Machines: An Introduction, Studies in Computational Intelligence
(SCI) 70, 1–9 (2007)
www.springerlink.com c Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007