Characterizing the Data Basis of Parametric Computer-Aided Design Systems for Agent-Based Modeling

Abstract

Still, a central tool for mechanical engineering is the computer-aided design (CAD) system for defining product shape and production information. Until today, researchers and practitioners attempted to implement intelligent agents as decision support or synthesis and analysis tools into CAD systems. To those belong multi-agent systems that analyze CAD models regarding manufacturability and production planning or support in knowledge retrieval and (manufacturing) feature recognition. This paper raises the question of what data and information sources a parametric CAD system provide that can be used for intelligent agents and agent-based modeling, and how agents may operate these. The contribution is an analysis and characterization of trigger, perception, and actor mechanisms for the interaction of intelligent agents and CAD systems in mechanical engineering. Developers of corresponding multi-agent systems can use the resulting morphological matrix as design tool.