A-Design: An Agent-Based Approach to Conceptual Design in a Dynamic Environment

Abstract

This paper provides an introduction to a new design methodology known as A-Design, which combines aspects of multi-objective optimization, multi-agent systems, and automated design synthesis. The A-Design theory is founded on the notion that engineering design occurs in interaction with an ever-changing environment, and therefore computer tools developed to aid in the design process should be adaptive to these changes. In this paper, A-Design is introduced along with some simple test problems to demonstrate the capabilities of different aspects of the theory. The theory of A-Design is then shown as the basis for a design tool that adaptively creates electro-mechanical configuration designs for changing user preferences.