Blackboard architecture is a flexible and powerful expert system framework. It represents an approach to problem-solving that is useful in many domains of applications, especially in the area of intelligent control. Blackboard architecture can provide an environment for achieving intelligent control behaviour in many AI systems. In this paper, a brief description of blackboard architecture is given. The potential and usefulness of this structured framework is examined. The discussions on the application of blackboard architecture is in the domain of real-time control of an autonomous mobile robot in a hazardous material spill emergency situation.