Coping with large design spaces: design problem solving in fluidic engineering

Abstract This paper is about tool support for knowledgeintensive engineering tasks. In particular, it introduces software technology to assist the design of complex technical systems. There is a long tradition in automated design problem solving in the field of artificial intelligence, where, especially in the early stages, the search paradigm dictated many approaches. Later, in the so-called modern period, a better problem understanding led to the development of more adequate problem solving techniques. However, search still constitutes an indispensable part in computer-based design problem solving--albeit many human problem solvers get by without (almost). We tried to learn lessons from this observation, and one is presented in this paper. We introduce design solving by functional abstraction which follows the motto: construct a poor solution with little search, which then must be repaired. For the domain of fluidic engineering we have operationalized the paradigm by the combination ...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2008
• Where: STTT
• Authors: Benno Stein
• Keywords: Design, Design Problem, Knowledgeintensive Engineering Tasks, STTT 2008