Fuzzy logic in the utility industry; something fuzzy's in the air.

Some problems in life are ill suited to precision. For example, consider the frustration of having to park a car exactly 6 inches from the curb when "close to the curb" is really where you want to be. Technical problems that require the rapid manipulation of large quantities of data can similarly frustrate a computer set up with deterministic algorithms - especially when uncertainties enter the picture. But an approach known as fuzzy logic can swiftly provide the ballpark answers needed to get the job done, even if uncertainties are involved.

Fuzzy logic emulates the reasoning of the human brain in that it can tolerate imprecision and allow for the mathematical …