INTRODUCTION TO THE SESSION ARTIFICIAL IhTELLIGENCE

Dr. Andreas B. Rechnitzer Chairman

As Chairman of this session I have the opportunity to express my enduring convistion regarding the virtues of increasing the amount of research and development in Artificial Intelligence for application to marine systems design. More effective undersea systems are required for search, rescue, recovery, salvage, maintenance and repair, and construction functions. Existing system capabilities have opened the depths to exploration, exploitation and other uses. Operational application of these systems has shown them on occasion to be marginally effective and even totally unsuited for certain tasks. Effort should be focused to create new undersea work capabilities employing Artificial Intelligence.

I like the term "smart systems". It connotes a new and valuable characteristic that should be incorporated into underwater work systems. This is immediately possible because of advances in Artificial Intelligence hardware and software. An unmanned work system that possess the capabilities of a diver illustrates the level of capability that would be particularly welcome for applications that are too hazardous or beyond the anticipated depth range of man-in-the-sea. To achieve any semblance of comparability in a machine system calls for effective orchestration of a spectrum of sensed information, interpretation, and mvlipulative actions that hopefully will complete a desired mission with the same level of achievement as a man. Today's Artificial Intelligence places us at the threshold of being able to replicate some of the essential capabilities of perception, reasoning, learning, communications, decision-making, and manipulation.

The challenge to create underwater systems with greater capability using Artificial Intelligence has been accepted by a few. It will become clear to those attending this session that Artificial Intelligence technologies are "creating waves" in concept formula- tion design and Artificial Intelligence will become a more forceful factor in the immediate future. The contributors to this session have poineered in this field. Hopefully, following their combined presenta- tions, some among you will grasp the golden ring of opportunity to avail yourselves of the benefits available from the application of Artificial Intelligence technologies in your marine systems design and development.

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