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From: mackw@bytex.com
Subject: Re: fuzzy stability 
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In article <3ai5ik$qhv@josie.abo.fi>, <jpensar@abo.fi> writes:
> In article r5k@eccdb1.pms.ford.com, sfarinwa@eth117.eld.ford.com (S 
Farinwata (Shehu)) writes:
> ....
> > There are all kinds of people who design fuzzy control systems 
today. 
> > You have both people with control theory background and without, 
doing it.
> > As a matter fact, you have people without an engineering 
background doing it.
> and it shows...

Actually, I find this to be one of the positive aspects of fuzzy 
logic; it provides a simplified approach to solving complex problems.
 
> As I understand it, a large part of the control theory field do 
look at fuzzy 
> control with skepticism, for some motivations, see e.g 
>  "Some Crisp Thoughts on Fuzzy Logic" by D. Abramovitch in Proc. 
ACC 94 and 
>  "What's all this Fuzzy Stuff, Anyhow?" by P. Porridge in 
Electronic Design, 
>   May 93, Nov 93.

I would hesitate to cite Mr. Robert Pease (writer of the Pease 
Porridge column in Electronic Design), as an informed source on fuzzy 
logic.  Whenever he steps outside of his area of expertise, his 
writing tends to fall back to opinion and speculation and usually 
indicates a lack of understanding on the subject.

Skepticism is fine, but it must also be noted that fuzzy logic is 
being used in the design of products and technology to solve problems 
that were not solved before.  The point is not whether the problems 
*could* have been solved by other means, but that they *were not*.
A Pentium microprocessor could have been designed with vacuum tubes, 
but is was not and it is highly unlikely that it ever would have 
been.  Transistors and a lot of other advances took the 
microprocessor from possible to feasible.

Fuzzy logic has done the same.  It has made new applications 
feasible.  Fuzzy logic is in use in providing products such as video 
cameras which compensate for hand shakiness, the Sendai subway in 
Japan, and one button washing machines.  This weekend at the local 
mall, I saw a fuzzy logic controlled electric razor!  Most texts on 
fuzzy logic will provide several examples of real world applications 
of fuzzy logic (one of the more comprehensive is _Industrial 
Applications of Fuzzy Technology_, K. Hirota (editor)).

I'm afraid fuzzy logic has shown it is a useful technology and the 
question is not whether fuzzy logic can solve problems, but why 
previous methods were not used to solve them.

Wayne Mack

