CPSC 502/503 Supervisor
CPSC 502 F23: Sarthak Sharan: Enhancing Access to Swimming Analytics Using Machine Learning
and intuitive dashboards
CPSC 502 F22: Alejandro Escobar: Predictive Tool for American Football Defensive Positioning
Using Machine Learning to Aid Coaches in Design of Offensive Formations and Plays
CPSC 503 F21: Zach Hassan: Decision Support for Choosing a Streaming Management Solution in
Video Game Streaming
SENG Capstone Mentor
F22-W23: Eduardo Benetti, Garth Slaney, Christina Truong, Minji Kim, Eddie Kim, Jiho Kim:
Motive Optimize - Website conversion analytics tool with multi-armed bandit algorithm
Machine learning is the scientific study of algorithms and statistical models that computer
systems use to effectively perform a specific task without using explicit instructions, relying on
patterns and inference instead. Seen as a subset of Artificial Intelligence.
The development of systems that either display behavior associated with intelligence or solve
problems that only intelligent beings can solve. The definition of intelligent is generally under
dispute and in flux as once an A.I. system exhibits a behaviour or solves a problem it typically loses
the previous requirement of intelligence.
Artificial intelligence systems in which the solving of a problem is distributed among
several agents. This distribution can be both cooperative (global system goal) or competitive (local
agent goal) in orientation. The complexity of agents (fine-grained to coarse-grained), number of agents
(few to many), degree of communication (simple to complex), distribution of control (centralized to
distributed), agent roles (homogeneous to heterogeneous) and ability of system to adapt are a few of the
many properties used to categorize multi-agent systems.
Often known as top-down self-adapting systems or autonomic computing. Multi-agent systems
where coherent problem solving is achieved with central control imposing it through planning. This
global organization appears when the centralized control agent of the system assesses system behaviour
and determines changes. Adaptation in such systems is achieved through centralized means.
Often known as bottom-up self-adapting systems. Multi-agent systems where coherent problem
solving is achieved without central control imposing it through planning. This global organization
appears from the local interactions of the individual agents that form the system, thus organization is
achieved through completely distributed control. Adaptation in such systems must therefore be achieved
through distributed means.
Emergence describes the way complex
behaviour arises from many simple local interactions. Generally associated with, but not limited to,
completely distributed control systems, such as self-organizing systems, emergence describes how the
local (microscopic) interactions of many individual components produce a global (macroscopic) behaviour.
This emergent behaviour cannot be perceived at the micro-level of individual agent observation yet is
readily apparent when observing multiple agents at the macro-level of scope.
Often known as search or optimization. Artificial
intelligence systems that use knowledge when solving the fundamental problem of search. Knowledge
consists of the representation of the problem, the possible solution space and information relevant to
the process of finding the type of solution desired. Search is the process by which the system attempts
to find within the possible solution space one or more solutions that best match the type of solution
desired. In optimization this is a search for a global optimum or many local optimums.
A method of performing knowledge-based search that relies of the properties of complex
systems such as biological (evolutionary
algorithms) or social populations
(swarm intelligence). The two most popular methods are genetic algorithms based on a survival of
the fittest biological evolution of a population of possible solutions and particle-swarm optimization based
on the social movements of a swarm of particles (possible solutions) within the solution space.
Using knowledge-based A.I. systems to search in the space of possible problems a system can
face for example problem instances where the system performs unacceptably. More specifically, using
evolutionary computation to perform optimization for test cases. This process is well-suited to testing
self-organizing multi-agent systems with emergent behaviors since emergence is relatively difficult to
predict.
Using knowledge-based A.I. systems to identify, assess and mitigate risks associated with
system operation. When self-organizing/self-adapting/hybrid systems are allowed to adapt it is generally
not sufficient to rely on exploratory automated exploratory testing to expose and propose solutions all
possible problem instances where risks may exists. Automated risk management allows a system to
quantifiably assess the risks associated with prospective adaptations proposed during operation and
choose only the most effective yet risk-averse changes to apply.
Data science is a multi-disciplinary field that uses scientific methods, processes,
algorithms and systems to extract knowledge and insights from structured and unstructured data.
