Effective problem-solving about complex engineered devices requires device models that are both adequate for the problem and computationally efficient . Producing such models requires identifying the relevant device features and determining applicable simplifications . This paper presents a method for automatically constructing a device model by selecting an appropriate model for each of the device's components using the context in which it operates . We introduce context-dependent behaviors (CDBs), a frame-like component behavior model representation for encapsulating contextual modeling constraints . We show how CDBs are used in the model selection process by exploiting constraints from three sources: the structural and behavioral contexts of the components, and the expected behavior of the device . We describe an implemented program for model selection . The inputs are the structure of the device-the components of the device and structural relations between them-the expected d...
P. Pandurang Nayak, Leo Joskowicz, Sanjaya Addanki