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State Space Search: Foundations of AI

On this course you will learn about AI as search, Local and Global Optima, Tree search, Depth-first and Breadth-first search.

Image of a tree created from various lines depicting six roots providing a digital souce of energy which branch out into various nodes.

  • Duration

    4 weeks

  • Weekly study

    0 hours
Overview
Requirements
Educators

Learn about AI as search, Local and Global Optima.

On this course you will learn about AI as search, Local and Global Optima, Tree search, Depth-first search and Breadth-first search.

You will learn about State Space Search, including examples of how to represent problems as State Space Search problems, algorithms to exhaustively search the State Space, and see a demonstration of a Breadth-first search on the Ancient brain platform.

What topics will you cover?

  • Topic 1: Search and Learning. A summary of AI as a form of search and how heuristics are used by a wide variety of programs, and by you in your daily life.
  • Topic 2: Tree Search. One way of structuring the search space, a demonstration of a binary tree in JavaScript and an opportunity for you to modify some code.
  • Topic 3: State Space Search, including examples of how to represent problems as State Space Search problems, algorithms to exhaustively search the State Space, a demonstration of a Breadth-first search on Ancient brain and an exercise where you modify code.
  • Topic 4: State Space Search (continued), including comparing and contrasting different forms of depth-first search and breadth-first search, demonstrating a second breadth-first search example and the opportunity to complete another breadth-first search exercise.

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Demonstrate an introductory understanding of AI as a form of search.
  • Explain and be able to code a search space in AI.
  • Demonstrate and be able to code and evaluate some exhaustive search methods in AI.
  • Explain the limitations of exhaustive search.

Who is the course for?

The course is aimed at IT professionals in employment in Republic of Ireland registered companies. To qualify for direct entry they must have a Level 8 Honours Degree (2.2) or higher in Computer Science, Computing, Computer Applications or a related discipline. Applicants without these entry requirements (e.g., Level 7 degree or lower than an Honours 2.2 in a Level 8 degree) may be considered if they can demonstrate previously obtained competence equivalent to the entry requirements.

What software or tools do you need?

We will be using the Ancient Brain, an online coding site on which we can write programs in the browser.

You do not need to download any software as everything can be coded, edited and run in the browser.

Who will you learn with?

Mark Humphrys

Dr. Mark Humphrys is a lecturer at DCU. He has a BSc from UCD and a PhD from Cambridge. His research interests are in AI. He is the inventor of the coding site "Ancient Brain".

Who developed the course?

Dublin City University

Dublin City University is a young, dynamic and ambitious Irish university with a distinctive mission to transform lives and societies through education, research and innovation.

Endorsers and supporters

funded by

Skillnet Ireland

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

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  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control

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