Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Written Assignment
Due: Wed, Nov. 26, 1997
There are two parts to this assignment. Each involves a short
reading, and then an essay discussing the reading in the context of
the frame problem.
Part 1
Read the
excerpt from Cognitive Wheels by Daniel
Dennet. You should take each of the three robots and describe what
has gone wrong. Feel free to use hindsight. Discuss how you think
you, as a human, would react to the situation the robot is in, and
then introspect on your supposed reaction and try to come up with an
algorithmic description of it that might help the robot.
Part 2
Read The Adventure of the Blue
Carbuncle. by A.C. Doyle. There is a pertinent section
highlighted in the story. Discuss the abilities of Watson as opposed
to Holmes in this scene. To what extent do either of them suffer from
the frame problem? Think about it another way, to what extent is
Watson's natural solution to the frame problem a hinderance in this
exercise?