The development of a rule-based expert-system tool for engineering teaching and research

Abstract A small general-purpose expert system shell called K-Shell that was designed and implemented to meet teaching and research requirements in a university environment is described. The principles of rule-based systems are briefly reviewed and the underlying philosophy, design and development of K-Shell is discussed. Experience with four expert systems implemented using K-Shell is described, with particular reference to the contribution of these systems to the evolution of K-Shell.