This paper presents a reconfigurable architecture to implement the state transitions of the hybrid fuzzy-Boolean finite state machine (HFB FSM) by intelligent software agents. The paper also discusses various aspects of implementing the intelligent software agents in hardware. The reconfigurable hardware accelerator architecture is created using parameterized components to add versatility with respect to the number of fuzzy inputs and the number of states. This is a very attractive property to implement virtual fuzzy automata for supervisory controllers of complex systems in which state clusters vary a great degree. The reconfigurable architecture allows the supervisory controller to reset the fuzzy automaton in order to model a particular state cluster, as needed. The hardware design was done using VHDL.

Our goal is to develop an automated assessment and training procedure for children with eye-hand coordination problem. An automated assessment system is expected to reduce the burden and the associated cost of having a trained professional present at any assessment, or training session. The intelligent decision support system will be based upon a fuzzy automaton. By using qualitative (fuzzified) data from the previous test the system will make a decision on the complexity of the next test to be performed. A set of assessment tests, commonly used by occupational therapists, were chosen to implement the various functions using force, inertia and viscosity effects. A test bed will be used for these tasks that consists of a six-degree-of-freedom force-reflecting haptic interface device called PHANToM along with the GHOST SDK Software, and the Intelligent Decision Support System software

Programs for contemporary industrial control systems are designed using an object oriented methods and software agents. It is required that the system should reach its objectives even when unexpected events occur in an uncertain environment. A trend is that agents are becoming more autonomous, more complex and are having more responsibilities. There is a need for a high-level information representation such that a predictable behavior can be achieved in a uniform way for all agents. A fuzzy automaton-based approach offers clear benefits for developing agents of reconfigurable architecture. This paper reports on a research project that is currently underway to develop a generic encapsulated fuzzy automaton software agent for object oriented control systems. A laboratory has been set up to develop and evaluate the performance of new methods and architectures.

We discuss the possibility of improving eyehand coordination in children diagnosed with this problem, using a robotic mapping from a haptic user interface to a virtual environment. Our goal is to develop an assessment and training procedure that will result in improving handwriting taking the advantage of the force feedback provided by the haptic device. Force feedback can be used to guide the subject's hand in a predetermined trajectory when he/she is unable to move in response to visual feedback. We also incorporate the inertia and viscosity effects to decrease the tremor in the hand as well as to stimulate the muscles involved in the task of holding a pencil (known as facilitation technique in the occupational therapy field). The robotic system is operated within ranges established by baseline data for accuracy of eye-hand coordination and grip strength. A set of assessment tests, commonly used by occupational therapists, were chosen to implement the various functions using force, inertia and viscosity effects. The test bed used for these tasks consisted of a six-degree-of-freedom force reflecting haptic interface device, PHANToM with the GHOST SDK Software. Preliminary data obtained from two children diagnosed with eye-hand coordination problems show that the assistance provided, improved their ability to execute and complete the tasks, suggesting that the system could be used for assessment and training purposes. In addition, these results suggest that the introduction of the haptic rendering capabilities, including the force feedback, offers special benefit and measures the impact on the occupation of handwriting. Furthermore, a real application of this system could be implemented in the future, by identifying specific job tasks that may be made accessible through a desktop in classrooms by the aforementioned haptic system.