The fuzzy logic picture gets clearer. (Fuzz-IEEE '92 Conference)

The Fuzz-IEEE '92 Conference, held last month in San Diego, CA, served as an important milestone in the evolution of the fuzzy logic field. Bringing together nearly 500 attendees, the show helped to forge a bond between long-time researchers and the many newcomers to the field.

These attendees were intent on seeing the latest research on fuzzy logic, fuzzy controllers, and the intermixing of fuzzy systems with other areas of advanced technology. Most of the attendees came to see basic research and recent innovations in the theory of fuzzy systems. They had much to choose from -- over 200 parallel sessions and more than 1,400 pages worth of proceedings (see sidebar, page 3).

Attendees looking to find applications and discussions of the down-to-earth practice of fuzzy logic implementation had much less to choose from at this show. The conference made some attempt to appease such interests (a handful of papers covered applications, and a modest exhibit area provided vendor information), but all-in-all this was a research-oriented event that left scientists encouraged about the rapid progress of this expanding field.

As fuzzy systems continue to gain attention, the desire to cross-fertilize ideas and theories with other, more established areas of advanced technology will continue as well. It's often difficult for a relatively new area of technology to break through a narrow pigeon hole put aside for such technology.

For example, ongoing debates between expert systems specialists and neural network specialists have often prevented either side from sharing techniques of theories with the "other side." Fortunately, the fuzzy systems arena seems to have been embraced by expert systems specialists, neural network specialists, software engineering specialists, and a wide variety of AI and non-AI technology fields.

At the Fuzz-IEEE Conference, while the attendance was comprised primarily of university faculty and researchers, a number of industry firms and private research groups also participated. These included representatives from such companies as IBM, TRW, HP, GE, DuPont, Lockheed, McDonnell Douglas, Rockwell, Boeing, Nissan, Hughes, Intel, NASA, Apple Computer, Otis Elevator, Ford Motor, MCC, Mobil Oil, Eastman Kodak, Allstate Insurance, SRI International, and others.

The companies above parallel the known current uses and industry attention that have put fuzzy systems in the spotlight. Practical fuzzy systems have been emerging in automobiles, airplanes, elevator controls, household appliances, industrial machinery, aerospace systems, military systems, and will gradually crop up in some of the newest computer systems.