CADET: A software support tool for constraint processes in embodiment design

For the last two decades there has been an attempt to put more “design” in computer-aided design (CAD) through improving CAD for conceptual design, embodiment design, design for manufacturing, and design for environment. This article presents computational methods for supporting constraint specification and satisfaction in mechanical embodiment design. The methods were tested and their feasibility verified through the implementation of the prototype software support tool, CADET (computer-aided-design embodiment tool). CADET is capable of rapidly specifying and satisfying large sets of algebraic design constraints. This article describes the product model developed to maintain design information and describes the use of generic component libraries to automate the specification of design constraints. In addition, adaptive search algorithms to find feasible designs to satisfy the imposed constraints are presented.

[1]  E. E. Berkhout,et al.  Methodology of Intelligent CAD Systems , 1987 .

[2]  Geoffrey E. Hinton,et al.  A Learning Algorithm for Boltzmann Machines , 1985, Cogn. Sci..

[3]  David Serrano,et al.  Constraint Management in Conceptual Design , 1989 .

[4]  Teuvo Kohonen,et al.  An introduction to neural computing , 1988, Neural Networks.

[5]  Hans Schmekel,et al.  Functional Models and Design Solutions , 1989 .

[6]  J. Suhayda,et al.  Numerical methods in water resources: Storm surge simulation using new FEMA model , 1988 .

[7]  B. T. David,et al.  Multi-expert systems for CAD , 1989 .

[8]  Joseph Edward Shigley,et al.  Standard Handbook of Machine Design , 2004 .

[9]  Jami J. Shah,et al.  Expert form feature modelling shell , 1988 .

[10]  Emile H. L. Aarts,et al.  Simulated Annealing: Theory and Applications , 1987, Mathematics and Its Applications.

[11]  N. Metropolis,et al.  Equation of State Calculations by Fast Computing Machines , 1953, Resonance.

[12]  Peter Jackson,et al.  Introduction to expert systems , 1986 .

[13]  Yoram Reich.  Design theory and practice. , 1991 .

[14]  Joseph Edward Shigley,et al.  Mechanical engineering design , 1972 .

[15]  Aylmer Johnson,et al.  Towards real CAD , 1991 .

[16]  Anna C. Thornton,et al.  Constraint specification and satisfaction in embodiment design , 1993 .

[17]  James H. Greene,et al.  Production and Inventory Control Handbook , 1970 .

[18]  Robert E. Young,et al.  SPARK: an artificial intelligence constraint network system for concurrent engineering , 1991 .

[19]  M. Ashby,et al.  Engineering Materials 2: An Introduction to Microstructures, Processing and Design , 1986 .

[20]  C. D. Gelatt,et al.  Optimization by Simulated Annealing , 1983, Science.

[21]  H. Saunders,et al.  Mechanical Engineering Design (4th Ed.) , 1985 .

[22]  Merhyle Franklin Spotts.  Design of machine elements , 1948 .

[23]  Glenn A. Kramer.  Solving geometric constraint systems a case study in kinematics , 1992, Comput. Aided Des..

[24]  Bruce E. Rosen,et al.  Genetic Algorithms and Very Fast Simulated Reannealing: A comparison , 1992 .

[25]  Charles E. Wilson,et al.  Machine Design: Theory and Practice , 1975 .

[26]  M. Konopasek,et al.  Constraint and declarative languages for engineering applications: The TK!Solver contribution , 1985, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[27]  Bjørn N. Freeman-Benson.  A module mechanism for constraints in Smalltalk , 1989, OOPSLA 1989.

[28]  Robin J. Popplestone,et al.  The Edinburgh Designer System as a framework for robotics: the design of behavior , 1987, Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing.

[29]  Robin J. Popplestone,et al.  The Edinburgh designer system as a framework for robotics , 1987, Proceedings. 1987 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation.

[30]  R Brooks,et al.  A Component Modelling System to Aid Materials Selection in Engineering Design , 1992 .

[31]  David E. Goldberg,et al.  Genetic Algorithms in Search Optimization and Machine Learning , 1988 .

[32]  George Stephanopoulos,et al.  Knowledge-Based System Applications in Engineering Design: Research at MIT , 1989, AI Mag..

[33]  Igor Aleksander,et al.  Introduction to Neural Computing , 1990 .

[34]  T. Willis,et al.  Book Reviews : DESIGN OF MACHINE ELEMENTS Fifth Edition M. F. Spotts Prentice Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1978 , 1979 .