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CS 6660: Intelligent Agents
Fall 2001
Ashok K. Goel
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Initial Course Description
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Course Title: Intelligent Agents
Prerequisites: Familiarity with basic concepts of computer science
               and methods of computer programming;
               some knowledge of intelligent systems
Meeting Place: CCB 101
Meeting Times: 3:05 to 4:25 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays

Instructor: Ashok K. Goel
Email: goel@cc.gatech.edu
Phone: 894-4994
Office: CRB 394 is the real office
Office Hours: See the webpage for up to date office hours

Office Policy: Please try to meet me during the office hours -
thanks. The best way to contact me at other times is by email.

Teaching Assistant: Marty Geier
Email: megak@mediaone.net
Office: CoC Commons area or Darts lab on 2nd floor of CoC
Office Hours: Wed from 11:45am to 1:30pm.  Thur from 1:30 to 2:45pm.  Fri by apt.

Description: CS 6660 is a 3-credit graduate-level introductory course
on Intelligent Agents. It also serves as a "gateway" to more advanced
courses in Intelligent Systems.

Objectives: The objectives of the course are (i) to provide a broad
survey of Intelligent Systems, (ii) to develop a theoretical
understanding of the basic concepts and major topics in Artificial
Intelligence, and (iii) to develop design skills in building simple
Intelligent Agents.

Format: The course will consist of class lectures and discussions,
discussions on the git.cs.class.6660 newsgroup, a number of reading
assignments, three design projects, and two examinations.  Students
will take turns taking class notes and mailing them to the TA who will
post them on the class webpage.  Class and newsgroup participation is
strongly encouraged.

Readings:
Primary text: Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Apprroach; S. Russell
and P. Norvig, Prentice Hall, 1995.

Supplemental texts: Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence:
A New Synthesis; Nils Nilsson, Morgan Kauffman, 1998.

Design Projects: There will be three design projects. Each project
will be about three weeks long. Students are welcome to use any modern
language (such as CommonLisp, C++, Java) on a machine of their choice
(as long as it is possible for the TA to easily run the program for
validation.)

Examinations: There will be one mid-term examination and a final
examination.  The mid-term examination will be in mid October, and
the final examination will be held in early December.

Grades: The mid term examination and the final examination will
constitute 25% and 40% of the final grade, respectively.  Each of the
three design projects will count for 10.0% of the grade.  Class
attendance, class and newsgroup participation, and class note taking
and posting will count for the rest.  All assignments must be turned
in on time - no extensions will be granted, but incomplete assignments
will be graded for partial credit.

Ashok Goel
August 20, 2001
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