A Knowledge System that Integrates Heterogeneous Software for a Design Application

In the aerospace industry, knowledge is frequently encoded in various procedural programming languages. These programs typically perform computational functions such as simulation modeling; dynamic analyzing; and optimizing in support of the preliminary design, the detailed design, and the test. Design analysis of the product requires that these computer programs be integrated in a specific sequence in terms of their input and output data and order of execution. Because of the complexity of the interrelationships among the programs, numerous delays and errors occur during their integration. These delays and errors can increase costs, cause scheduling crises, and reduce design quality. However, the problem-solving knowledge required to perform the integration function can be formalized in an expert system that “understands” the objectives of the analyst and executes all programs necessary to produce the desired design analysis. This article describes the expert executive for preliminary design, which was developed at The Boeing Company to expedite the design analysis of aerospace vehicles.