What is conditional event algebra and why should you care?

I. R. Goodman; Ronald P. S. Mahler; H. T. Nguyen

doi:10.1117/12.357147

27 July 1999 What is conditional event algebra and why should you care?

I. R. Goodman, Ronald P. S. Mahler, H. T. Nguyen

Proceedings Volume 3720, Signal Processing, Sensor Fusion, and Target Recognition VIII; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.357147
Event: AeroSense '99, 1999, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

Building practical intelligent-system algorithms requires appropriate tools for capturing the basic features of highly complex real-world environments. One of the most important of these tools, probability theory, is a calculus of events (e.g. EVENT = 'A fire-control radar of type A is detected' with Prob(EVENT) = 0.80). Conditional Event Algebra (CEA) is a relatively new inference calculus which rigorously extends standard probability theory to include events which are contingent--e.g. rules such as `If fire-control radar A is detected, then weapon B will be launched'; or conditionals such as `observation Z given target state X.' CEA allows one to (1) probabilistically model a contingent event; (2) assign a probability Prob(COND_EVENT) equals 0.50 to it; and (3) compute with such conditional events and probabilities using the same basic rules that govern ordinary events and probabilities. Since CEA is only about ten years old, it has achieved visibility primarily among specialists in expert-systems theory and mathematical logic. Recently, however, it has become clear that CEA has potentially radical implications for engineering practice as well. The purpose of this paper is to bring this promising new tool to the attention of the wider engineering community. We will give a tutorial introduction to CEA, based on simple motivational examples, and describe its potential applications in a number of practical engineering problems.

Citation Download Citation

I. R. Goodman, Ronald P. S. Mahler, and H. T. Nguyen "What is conditional event algebra and why should you care?", Proc. SPIE 3720, Signal Processing, Sensor Fusion, and Target Recognition VIII, (27 July 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.357147

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available