CPSC 502 -- Artificial Intelligence I
Course Project

David Poole

October 2006

In particular, you should:

• Form a group of any size (including one).
• Choose at least n+1 research papers which refer to each other. (Where n is the number of people in your group).
• Give me a (1 page) project proposal as soon as possible, but at least by October 23 stating the members of your group, the general area of your project and what papers you chose. Hopefully randomness will ensure there is a diversity of topics, but you may be asked to coordinate with other groups if your proposals are very close.
• Give a presentation during one of the last 5 lectures. This presentation should cover:
  • What background information is needed to understand the papers you chose.
  • What contribution each paper made. In particular, you need to explain the incremental contribution of each paper. Explain what the result in each paper was and what evidence they used for their result (e.g., some theorems, empirical evidence that their algorithm was faster, showing some behaviour that wasn't previously possible).
  Each group will be given approximately 15 minutes per member + 5 minutes for questions. A group must give one coherent talk, and each member needs to present.
• Write a survey paper that covers the background information and explains the contributions of the papers. These survey papers are due on the last day of class.
• You will review some of the other papers.
• The revised versions will be distributed to the other members of the class.

You will have to submit a number of copies of your survey paper, and will be expected to review a number of papers. The exact number of papers and reviews depends on the number of groups. Reviewing will be done individually. Reviewers will be confidential (i.e., the reviewers will know the authors, but the authors will not know who reviewed your paper). I will know who reviewed what papers, and reviewing will be a component in the final grade. I will distribute the review form before the papers are due.

One way to get ideas is to start looking through the course readings on certain topics - don't wait until we get to the middle or end of the course, for instance, to look at the articles on planning or decision theory. Skim through all the course material keeping an eye open for something that looks interesting to you. Even if it's just a general topic or area, it will provide you with pointers to the literature on related issues (so will I, so make sure you talk with me early and often).