Almost four decades ago, Parnas advocated modularity for the sake of changeability, independent development, and comprehensibility. The recipe for modularization is to define a clean interface, hide an implementation detail, keep low coupling and high cohesion. Although modules have taken many forms over the years from functions and procedures to classes, no form has been capable of expressing so-called crosscutting concerns in...

The paper presents the approach aimed at building modularized knowledge bases in a systematic, context-aware way. The paper focuses on logical modeling of such knowledge bases, including an underlying SIM metamodel. The architecture of a comprehensive set of tools for knowledge-base systems engineering is presented. The tools enable an engineer to design, create and edit a knowledge base schema according to a novel context approach...

Support for modularity allows complex ontologies to be separated into smaller pieces (modules) that are easier to maintain and compute. Instead of considering the entire complex ontology, users may benefit more by starting from a problem-specific set of concepts (signature of problem) from the ontology and exploring its surrounding logical modules. Additionally, an ontology modularization mechanism allows for the splitting up of...

In this chapter we present a new approach to development of modularized knowledge bases. We argue that modularization should start from the very beginning of modeling, i.e. from the conceptualization stage. To make this feasible, we propose to exploit a context-oriented, semantic approach to modularization. This approach is based on the Structural Interpretation Model (SIM) presented earlier elsewhere. In the first part of thischapter...

A modular mine hunting ROV concept is presented. The design is based on experience gained during 15 years of exploitation of the Ukwial ROV and development of Gluptak single shot mine hunting systems. The design goal was to multiply capabilities of the Ukwial without increasing weight and dimensional envelope. The vehicle is composed around powerful propulsion system that gives the system basic PVDS capability and mine disposal...