Declarative Problem Solving with Answer Set Programming, 3 credits

Aims and objectives

General aims for second cycle education

Second-cycle courses and study programmes shall involve the acquisition of specialist knowledge, competence and skills in relation to first-cycle courses and study programmes, and in addition to the requirements for first-cycle courses and study programmes shall

• further develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of their knowledge
• develop the students' ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and
• develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, or for research and development work.

(Higher Education Act, Chapter 1, Section 9)

Course objectives

Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course the student will

• know about the major principles in logic and different standard approaches in logic programming.
• have a better understanding of constraint programming using the stable model or answer set semantics

Applied knowledge and skills
Completing this course, the student will be able to

• model and formalize different problems such as optimization problems in a declarative way
• demonstrate their skills in modeling hybrid solutions based on answer set programming
• use answer set solvers for modeling and implementing of intelligent systems

Making judgments and attitudes
Completing this course, the student will be able to

• judge the suitability of symbolic reasoning methods for a given problem
• identify problems or misleading results by evaluating the usage of the logical operators, constraints and different types of logical negations used in a given logic program

Main content of the course

• Review of First Order Logic
• Syntax and Semantics of Answer Set Programming
• ASP Solving Process
• Optimization
• Stream Reasoning and Incremental Solving Process
• Hybrid architectures for implementing intelligent systems.

Teaching methods

The course is designed as a distance learning course with a few compulsory activities. It consists of a series of online lectures, compulsory independent study exercises and project assignments.

Students who have been admitted to and registered on a course have the right to receive tuition and/or supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course to which they were accepted (see, the university's admission regulations (in Swedish)). After that, the right to receive tuition and/or supervision expires.

Examination methods

Exercises, 1.5 credits (Code: A001)
Examination is done based on written reports on obligatory task assignments.

Project, 1.5 credits (Code: A002)
Examination is based on oral presentation at seminar.

For students with a documented disability, the university may approve applications for adapted or other forms of examinations.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

Grades

According to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, Section 18, a grade is to be awarded on the completion of a course, unless otherwise prescribed by the university. The university may prescribe which grading system shall apply. The grade is to be determined by a teacher specifically appointed by the university (an examiner).

In accordance with university regulations regarding grading systems for first and second-cycle courses (Vice-Chancellor’s decision ORU 2018/00929), one of the following grades shall be used: Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG). For courses that are included in an international Master’s programme (60 or 120 credits) or offered to the university’s incoming exchange students, the grading scale of A-F shall be used. The vice-chancellor, or a person appointed by the vice-chancellor, may decide on exceptions from this provision for a specific course, if there are special grounds.

Grades used on course are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

Exercises
Grades used are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

Project
Grades used are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

Comments on grades

Grade on whole course
To obtain the grade Pass with Distinction (VG) on the course as a whole, Pass with Distinction (VG) is required for both exams.

Specific entry requirements

At least 180 credits including 15 credits programming as well as qualifications corresponding to the course "English 5"/"English A" from the Swedish Upper Secondary School.

For further information, see the university's admission regulations (in Swedish).

Transfer of credits for previous studies

Students who have previously completed higher education or other activities are, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, entitled to have these credited towards the current programme, providing that the previous studies or activities meet certain criteria.

For further information, see the university's local credit transfer regulations (in Swedish).

Other provisions

The course is given in English.

Reading list and other teaching materials

Compulsory literature

Martin Gebser, Roland Kaminski, Benjamin Kaufmann, and Torsten Schaub (2012)
Answer Set Solving in Practice, Synthesis Lectures on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Morgan and Claypool

Chitta Baral (2003)
Knowledge Representation, Reasoning and Declarative Problem Solving
Cambridge University Press