A design representation scheme for collaborative product development (original) (raw)

Research PaperThe Development & Future Opportunities for Knowledge Representation of Product Design System

Rajwade Sanshodhan Kendra, 2024

Product design is a multidimensional process that requires accurate knowledge representation to enable informed decision-making. Given the large volumes of data involved, efficient knowledge management and transmission is crucial. This study investigates the nature as well as classification of knowledge in product design, looks at several computational methods, and anticipates future prospects in the subject.

Representation in Engineering Design: A Framework for Classification

Volume 3a: 16th International Conference on Design Theory and Methodology, 2004

Many researchers have identified engineering design representation as a central issue for design research and design automation development. Despite this identification, there is still no common agreement on a framework for classifying and describing representation in engineering design. A framework for classifying representations in engineering design is presented here that is based upon the vocabulary, structure, expression, purpose, and abstraction. Examples are used to illustrate the application of this framework. Finally, this framework is compared to other partial representation classifications found in the literature. The framework discussed here enables design researchers, design practitioners, and design students to compare design representation approaches thereby supporting the selection of appropriate representations and models for various design tasks and automation.

The evolution, challenges, and future of knowledge representation in product design systems

Computer-Aided Design, 2013

Product design is a highly involved, often ill-defined, complex and iterative process, and the needs and specifications of the required artifact get more refined only as the design process moves toward its goal. An effective computer support tool that helps the designer make better-informed decisions requires efficient knowledge representation schemes. In today's world, there is a virtual explosion in the amount of raw data available to the designer, and knowledge representation is critical in order to sift through this data and make sense of it. In addition, the need to stay competitive has shrunk product development time through the use of simultaneous and collaborative design processes, which depend on effective transfer of knowledge between teams. Finally, the awareness that decisions made early in the design process have a higher impact in terms of energy, cost, and sustainability, has resulted in the need to project knowledge typically required in the later stages of design to the earlier stages. Research in design rationale systems, product families, systems engineering, and ontology engineering has sought to capture knowledge from earlier product design decisions, from the breakdown of product functions and associated physical features, and from customer requirements and feedback reports. VR (Virtual reality) systems and multidisciplinary modeling have enabled the simulation of scenarios in the manufacture, assembly, and use of the product. This has helped capture vital knowledge from these stages of the product life and use it in design validation and testing. While there have been considerable and significant developments in knowledge capture and representation in product design, it is useful to sometimes review our position in the area, study the evolution of research in product design, and from past and current trends, try and foresee future developments. The goal of this paper is thus to review both our understanding of the field and the support tools that exist for the purpose, and identify the trends and possible directions research can evolve in the future.

Towards a Dynamic and Hierarchical Product Modelling Environment in Design Function Deployment

Computer Aided Design systems currently available in industry, generally lack effective integration of both textual and geometric data. They tend to represent mainly geometric information about a product with little or no representation for the associated textual information generated during the course of the design process. Current thinking suggests that a more rational, integrated and complete approach to the representation of an evolving design is needed. This paper addresses key issues to be considered in the development and implementation of a product modelling environment within a concurrent engineering design system, called Design Function Deployment. It also discusses the rationale for an integrated product modelling framework for concurrent engineering, the requirements for its implementation and concludes with an enunciation of its overall structure.

A framework for feature-based representation of the design process

Engineering with Computers, 1990

The design process is very complicated and differs with each engineer. The development of computer-based aids for design must take this into consideration and allow for the nuances of the individual. A generic representation of the information used in design is required for the development of any data base that supports the design aid. A properly designed data base or set of data bases can help integrate CAD, expert system, and ancillary programs, thereby forming an intelligent design system. A model has been developed that allows the information requirements of the design process to be analyzed. A data base for an intelligent design system can be developed based on these results.

A Feature-Based Description Technique for Design Processes: A Case Study

. "A Feature-based description technique for design processes: a case study." In ABSTRACT In order to develop appropriate tools for decision support in design processes, it is necessary to found them on an understanding of design. Analytical techniques of design processes that have a direct relationship with tool development can enhance design support systems development. The paper focuses on a design support system in the VR-DIS research program. The aim of this research program is to develop insight in the architectural design process and to establish design tools for architects working in Virtual Reality. The basic approach for data modelling in VR in this research is based on an extension of the Feature Based Modelling paradigm taken from design in mechanical engineering. The computer model of the design in the system is a Feature-based model. This paper describes design processes in terms of changes in the Feature-based model of the design. For this purpose, a case of a house design is used. Drawings in the conceptual design phase up to the preliminary design phase are studied. Each state of the drawings is described in terms of a Feature-model. Particular design actions such as creation of spaces, definition of architectural elements, and changes during the design process can be expressed in terms of changes in the Feature-model. Because of the use of Features, the changes can be formalised in the VR-DIS system. The description in terms of Features offers an analytical tool that leads to a functional brief for design support tools. The paper ends with a discussion of implications and future work.

Representation of Design Object Based on the Functional Evolution Process Model

Journal of Mechanical Design, 1998

One of the crucial issues for developing computer aided conceptual design system is representation of functions which represent designers' intention. Representing functions is also crucial not only for representing design objects but also for describing conceptual design processes, in which designers operate mainly functional concepts. Namely, function is a key concept to integrate object modeling and process modeling in design.

Product Model for Requirements and Design Concept Management: Representing Design Alternatives and Rationale

2003

Throughout the development of complex products, thousands of requirements are established, communicated, followed up, and verified. In addition, even more design solutions, at various levels of abstractions, are created, refined, evaluated, industrialised and verified during this period. Although design tools support the documentation and administration of the output of these activities, i.e. requirements and solutions, they lack the functionality to support the iterative gestation of requirements and design solutions as they are created. This paper illustrates how a product model, focusing on requirements and design concept management, can address these issues by incorporating design rationale, i.e. the reasoning and the justification underlying requirements and solutions considered, with the aim to close the gap between product models and design rationale models. The product model has been implemented in a commercial PDM software and its use is illustrated with the information from the design of a passenger car cockpit.

6.5.3 Product Model for Requirements and Design Concept Management: Representing Design Alternatives and Rationale

INCOSE International Symposium, 2003

Throughout the development of complex products, thousands of requirements are established, communicated, followed up, and verified. In addition, even more design solutions, at various levels of abstractions, are created, refined, evaluated, industrialised and verified during this period. Although design tools support the documentation and administration of the output of these activities, i.e. requirements and solutions, they lack the functionality to support the iterative gestation of requirements and design solutions as they are created. This paper illustrates how a product model, focusing on requirements and design concept management, can address these issues by incorporating design rationale, i.e. the reasoning and the justification underlying requirements and solutions considered, with the aim to close the gap between product models and design rationale models. The product model has been implemented in a commercial PDM software and its use is illustrated with the information from the design of a passenger car cockpit.

Functional representation of designs and redesign problem solving

Proceedings of the Eleventh International …, 1989

The information processing task of redesign and its subtasks of diagnosis and repair are an alyzed. Various kinds of knowledge required for redesign problem solving are identified, and a scheme for representing them is described. In this scheme, the functions of the device and its structural components are represented ex plicitly, and causal and anticipatory knowledge about its design is organized around these func tions. This functional representation language also provides primitives for representing and ac cessing knowledge of domain principles such as Physics laws. The use of functional represen tation of designs in redesign problem solving is illustrated for the redesign of the reaction wheel assembly aboard the Hubble space telescope.