MadSci Network: Computer Science
Query:

Re: What are 'Fuzzy Theory' ,'Fuzzy Systems' , 'Fuzzy logic'&'Soft Computing'?

Date: Mon May 22 16:59:43 2000
Posted By: Michael Freed, Research Scientist, Aerospace Human Factors, NASA Ames Research Center
Area of science: Computer Science
ID: 957856355.Cs
Message:

Fuzzy Logic is a formal (mathematical) way of reasoning based on classical
logic.  The basis of classical logic is that you can express facts using
symbols, then use "inference rules" to determine new facts that follow from 
the old ones.  For example, one might use the letter-symbol R to signify 
"the car is running" and the implication-rule R->K to mean "if the car is 
running then the key is in the ignition."  If we assume that R and R->K are 
true, then we can deduce that K (the key is in the ignition) is also true.

In classical logic, symbols represent statements that are wholly true.  
Fuzzy logic allows the representation of statements that are true to some 
degree.  This is especially useful for concepts that are subjective such as 
"smart" or "dangerous."  In classical logic, you could only say, e.g., that
a knife is dangerous..  D(knife).  With fuzzy logic you could say that the 
knife is dangerous to a degree D(knife .50).  Fuzzy logic provides rules 
for drawing implications from fuzzy assertions such as these.

Fuzzy theory is synonymous with fuzzy logic, though it's not a technical 
term.  Fuzzy systems are computer programs that use fuzzy logic.  For more 
(and more technical) info, see:
 
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/project/ai-repository/ai/html/faqs/ai/fuzzy/part1/faq.html 




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