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ECE 4524 - Artificial Intelligence and Engineering Applications (4C)

Course Description

Problem solving methods; problem spaces; search techniques; knowledge representation; programming languages for AI; games; predicate logic; knowledge-based systems; machine learning; planning techniques; reactive systems; artifical neural networks; natural language understanding; computer vision; robotics.

Why take this course?

Computational systems are very good at repetitive tasks that are completely specified in advance. They do not perform so well at tasks that are poorly specified. The course presents Artificial Intelligence as providing the potential for making computers more useful, motivated in part by biological systems. Engineering applications are used to illustrate the concepts.

Learning Objectives

  • Formulate problems that involve knowledge representation and state-space search
  • Demonstrate proficiency with an AI programming language
  • Develop and analyze software that performs heuristic search
  • Develop and analyze software for game-playing using adversarial search
  • Use predicate logic to represent facts and perform resolution theorem proving
  • Develop algorithms and software for action planning, machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision in constrained problem domains
  • Develop and analyze a knowledge-based ("expert") system
  • Describe the operation and limitations of common artificial neural network systems

    • Resources & Links

    Two-Semester Major Design Experience

    ECE’s two-semester Major Design Experience (ECE 4805-4806) provides teams of students with simulations of the post-college world via projects specified and directed by industry partners. For more information, contact class instructor, Dr. Joe Adams.

    Textbook List

    Take a look at the Fall 2024 ECE textbook list.
    Take a look at the Spring 2025 ECE textbook list.

    Current Prerequisites & Course Offering

    For current prerequisites for a particular course, and to view course offerings for a particular semester, see the Virginia Tech Course Timetables

    ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission

    The B.S. degree in electrical engineering and the B.S. degree in computer engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

    Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) & Student Outcomes (SOs)