Qualitative reasoning about design objects

Abstract

This paper presents an intelligent design system which interactively assists a designer during the design process. The system is based on a general design model by which design is viewed as a stepwise refinement process. During this process a model of the design object is gradually refined from a rough abstract model to an exact description meeting the desired specifications. This model is called a meta-model since it is used as a central model from which aspect models are derived. For the meta-model description we use a qualitative model which describes the design object in terms of function and behavior. The system is a so called empty shell since it is only a framework on which an intelligent CAD system can be built. As an example we show an intelligent CAD system for the key design of a technical device in order to visualize the phenomenon of aquaplaning.