This project will examine the feasibility of a computer-based system that would emulate an accident investigation supervisor. Systems of this type are a product of artificial intelligence research, and are known collectively as "expert systems'. This feasibility analysis will examine: the role of empirically derived (heuristic) decisions and procedures used during accident investigation, the required reasoning (inference) mechanism, human issues pertaining to introduction of an expert system, the mechanisms by which pertinent knowledge is accumulated and changed, the necessity for explanatory facilities, the potential for interface with the NASA Center-Wide Mishap Data Storage System, and a comparison of available delivery systems. The result of this study will be a report addressing each of these concerns, and preliminary specification of the required system(s).
