Methodology for expert-system-based support of conceptual machine design

Abstract

The cumulative requirements of design cannot be satisfied without the application of computer-based systems in the conceptual phase of design. The concept of intelligent CAD systems emerged at the beginning of the eighties. A practical implementation of an ICAD system can be based on an expert system with a specialized conceptual design methodology. Design prototypes may be generated by the systematic combination of known atomized building elements. To avoid combinatorial explosion, filtering is done on three levels. In the case of the pilot design expert system PANGEA, now being developed, the geometric modelling of prototypes is based on an extended B-rep scheme.