PRINTEPS – A Framework PRINTEPS to Develop Practical Artificial Intelligence

PRINTEPS – Practical Intelligent Applications. PRINTEPS is a software platform, which supports end users to design AI applications, sometimes in a matter of days or even hours, using pre-programmed modules and linkages. The platform has been developed in conjunction with end users and is designed to be iterative and flexible, and able to be quickly adapted to new needs.

PRINTEPS is a broadly applicable AI programming tool, which has to date been tested on mobile, humanoid robots undertaking tasks usually carried out by humans. PRINTEPS incorporates knowledge-based reasoning, speech recognition and response, image sensing and motion planning – the project is funded by the CREST initiative within the Japan Science and Technology Agency, which seeks to support intelligent information processing systems that aid 'harmonious' relationships between machines and humans.

The four main modules devoted to knowledge reasoning, image sensing, conversation and motion, are supported by integrated knowledge databases, machine learning, business rules and the workflow interface. Yamaguchi says: 'there are other robot interface platforms but they either lack the range of facilities provided in PRINTEPS, or do not have the versatility or user-interface incorporated in our system.' A visually intuitive workflow editor enables a user to arrange the basic modules needed and to write business rules based on the concept of 'if this happens, then do this'. Once programmed, PRINTEPS automatically converts the user's input data to Python, which runs on the robot operating system (ROS). Therefore, the user does not need to have any knowledge of programming languages and can use plain language when defining rules and inputting data.