Engineering Design Synthesis: A Domain Independent Representation

The knowledge used in the synthesis of engineering systems includes understanding systems and their components and the implications of design decisions on other decisions on further problem decomposition. In using a knowledge based approach to synthesis, design knowledge can be characterized as planning knowledge, including design goals and planning or ordering of goals, and design knowledge, including alternative solutions for each goal and constraints on the selection of a solution for a given goal. This approach is implemented in a program called EDESYN (Engineering DEsign SYNthesis), developed using a frame-based reasoning tool. EDESYN provides a domain independent environment for building design expert systems.