Architecture of an Expert System for Oceanographic Mooring Design

1989 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. L. Wood ◽  
R. A. Skop
Keyword(s):  
Expert System ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Single Point ◽  
End User ◽  
Design Problems ◽  
Acoustic Data ◽  
Engineering Design Problems ◽  
Engineering Design Problem ◽  
Rules Of Thumb

Methods for the design and analysis of oceanographic moorings are well established (Berteaux, 1976). However, as with most engineering design problems, there are certain “rules-of-thumb” or “tricks-of-the-trade” that streamline the design process and enhance the performance of the final product. These rules-of-thumb are normally known to only a small cadre of people—experts—who have deep involvement and experience in the particular engineering design problem. These rules-of-thumb and other knowledge of several experts are incorporated to develop the fundamental architecture of an expert system for the design of single-point, subsurface, oceanographic moorings. Such moorings are used worldwide to collect oceanographic and acoustic data. The projected end user of this expert system is the oceanographer or acoustician who wishes to design and/or cost out a mooring but has not the access to or support for a mooring design group.

Standards, Codes of Practice and Expert Systems

1988 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
E G McCluskey ◽  
S Thompson ◽  
D M G McSherry
Keyword(s):  
Expert System ◽  
Expert Systems ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Performance Criteria ◽  
Design Problems ◽  
Codes Of Practice ◽  
Engineering Design Problems ◽  
And Performance

Many engineering design problems require reference to standards or codes of practice to ensure that acceptable safety and performance criteria are met. Extracting relevant data from such documents can, however, be a problem for the unfamiliar user. The use of expert systems to guide the retrieval of information from standards and codes of practice is proposed as a means of alleviating this problem. Following a brief introduction to expert system techniques, a tool developed by the authors for building expert system guides to standards and codes of practice is described. The steps involved in encoding the knowledge contained in an arbitrarily chosen standard are illustrated. Finally, a typical consultation illustrates the use of the expert system guide to the standard.

The Complementary Roles of Symbolic Computing and Numerical Optimization in Engineering Design Software

1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Ellsworth ◽  
A. Parkinson ◽  
F. Cain
Keyword(s):  
Expert System ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Numerical Optimization ◽  
Optimization Methods ◽  
Design Rule ◽  
Rule Base ◽  
Design Problems ◽  
Symbolic Computing ◽  
Engineering Design Problems ◽  
Trial And Error Method

Abstract In many engineering design problems, the designer converges upon a good design by iteratively evaluating a mathematical model of the design problem. The trial-and-error method used by the designer to converge upon a solution may be complex and difficult to capture in an expert system. It is suggested that in many cases, the design rule base could be made significantly smaller and more maintainable by using numerical optimization methods to identify the best design. The expert system is then used to define the optimization problem and interpret the solution, as well as to apply the true heuristics to the problem. An example of such an expert system is presented for the design of a valve anti-cavitation device. Because of the capabilities provided by the optimization software, the expert system has been able to outperform the expert in the test cases evaluated so far.

Building an Expert System for Engineering Design Based on the Object-Oriented Knowledge Representation Concept

1988 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Akagi ◽  
K. Fujita
Keyword(s):  
Expert System ◽  
Knowledge Representation ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Model Building ◽  
Object Oriented ◽  
Design Model ◽  
Design Problems ◽  
Design Variables ◽  
Effective Diagnosis

Abstract An expert system is developed for engineering design based on object-oriented knowledge representation concept. The design process is understood as determining design variables and their relationships which compose design model. The design model is represented as a network in the computer system using the object-oriented knowledge representation. The system built with the above concept provides the following abilities: 1) flexible model building and easy modification, 2) effective diagnosis of the design process, 3) supporting method for redesign, 4) a hybrid function with numerical computations and graphics, and 5) applicability for various design problems. Finally, it is applied to the basic design of a ship.

scholarly journals CURRICULUM AS AN ENGINEERING DESIGN PROBLEM

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. Ruth ◽  
M. G. Britton
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Design Problem ◽  
Mechanical Engineering ◽  
Engineering Program ◽  
Arts And Humanities ◽  
Engineering Design Process ◽  
The Arts ◽  
Engineering Design Problem ◽  
Rules Of Thumb

If the teaching of engineering is indeed the practice of engineering, then it stands to reason that the development of engineering curricula can be treated as an engineering design problem. In this paper, the authors apply the engineering design process to develop a list of courses, for a Mechanical Engineering Program, that conforms to the constraints of the Canadian system of engineering accreditation. For the purpose of this exercise, the following steps are used to define the engineering design process: identical and delimit the problem, establish the outline of the solution (and alternatives), break the problem into its constituent parts, analyze the parts, synthesize the parts into a final configuration, and document the solution. The limits and constraints on the solution are based on the criteria specified by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB), the syllabus specified by the Canadian Engineering Qualifications Board (CEQB), some common rules-of-thumb, and previously published work by the authors. By utilizing the engineering design process, schools of engineering and applied science can ensure that their curricula, at least at the level of the course specification, will conform to the CEAB and CEQB requirements. As a final exercise, variations on the curriculum are studied to analyze the possibility of introducing such additional elements as options and minors, expanded studies in the arts and humanities, and development of skills in additional languages.

The Complementary Roles of Knowledge-Based Systems and Numerical Optimization in Engineering Design Software

1989 ◽  
Vol 111 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Ellsworth ◽  
A. Parkinson ◽  
F. Cain
Keyword(s):  
Expert System ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Numerical Optimization ◽  
Optimization Methods ◽  
Design Rule ◽  
Rule Base ◽  
Design Problems ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Engineering Design Problems ◽  
Trial And Error Method

In many engineering design problems, the designer converges upon a good design by iteratively evaluating a mathematical model of the design problem. The trial-and-error method used by the designer to converge upon a solution may be complex and difficult to capture in an expert system. It is suggested that in many cases, the design rule base could be made significantly smaller and more maintainable by using numerical optimization methods to identify the best design. The expert system is then used to define the optimization problem and interpret the solution, as well as to apply the true heuristics to the problem. An example of such an expert system is presented for the design of a valve anticavitation device. Because of the capabilities provided by the optimization software, the expert system has been able to outperform the expert in the test cases evaluated so far.

scholarly journals ASSESSMENT OF EVIDENCE FOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT IDEATION PRACTICES

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antony J Hodgson ◽  
HF Machiel Van Der Loos
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Design Problem ◽  
Design Problems ◽  
Engineering Design Problems ◽  
Assessment Of Evidence ◽  
Engineering Schools

While most engineering schools substantially agree on the general form of the design process that should be used to address engineering design problems, surprisingly little is known about the actual practical effectiveness of many recommended techniques. In this paper and presentation, we review some of the recent evidence concerning the effectiveness of several well- known practices related to ideation - i.e., generating alternative potential solutions to a design problem.

Entropic Method for Sequencing Discrete Design Decisions

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiradeep Sen ◽  
Farhad Ameri ◽  
Joshua D. Summers
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Design Solution ◽  
Design Problems ◽  
Design Decisions ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Task Sequencing ◽  
Design Variables ◽  
Engineering Design Problems ◽  
Measure Of Uncertainty

Early stages of engineering design processes are characterized by high levels of uncertainty due to incomplete knowledge. As the design progresses, additional information is externally added or internally generated within the design process. As a result, the design solution becomes increasingly well-defined and the uncertainty of the problem reduces, diminishing to zero at the end of the process when the design is fully defined. In this research a measure of uncertainty is proposed for a class of engineering design problems called discrete design problems. Previously, three components of complexity in engineering design, namely, size, coupling and solvability, were identified. In this research uncertainty is measured in terms of the number of design variables (size) and the dependency between the variables (coupling). The solvability of each variable is assumed to be uniform for the sake of simplicity. The dependency between two variables is measured as the effect of a decision made on one variable on the solution options available to the other variable. A measure of uncertainty is developed based on this premise, and applied to an example problem to monitor uncertainty reduction through the design process. Results are used to identify and compare three task-sequencing strategies in engineering design.

Building an Expert System for Engineering Design Based on the Object-Oriented Knowledge Representation Concept

1990 ◽  
Vol 112 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Akagi ◽  
K. Fujita
Keyword(s):  
Expert System ◽  
Knowledge Representation ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Model Building ◽  
Object Oriented ◽  
Design Model ◽  
Design Problems ◽  
Design Variables ◽  
Effective Diagnosis

An expert system is developed for engineering design based on an object-oriented knowledge representation concept. The design process is understood as determining design variables and their relationships which compose the design model. The design model is represented as a network in the computer system using the object-oriented knowledge representation. The system built with the above concept provides the following abilities: (1) flexible model building and easy modification, (2) effective diagnosis of the design process, (3) supporting method for redesign, (4) a hybrid function with numerical computations and graphics, and (5) applicability for various design problems. Finally, it is applied to the basic design of a ship.

Biologically Inspired Design: A Macrocognitive Account

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Swaroop S. Vattam ◽  
Michael Helms ◽  
Ashok K. Goel
Keyword(s):  
Biological Sciences ◽  
Information Processing ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Patterns ◽  
Information Processing Model ◽  
Biologically Inspired ◽  
Design Problems ◽  
Engineering Design Problems ◽  
Other Information ◽  
Biologically Inspired Design

Biologically inspired engineering design is an approach to design that espouses the adaptation of functions and mechanisms in biological sciences to solve engineering design problems. We have conducted an in situ study of designers engaged in biologically inspired design. Based on this study we develop here a macrocognitive information-processing model of biologically inspired design. We also compare and contrast the model with other information-processing models of analogical design such as TRIZ, case-based design, and design patterns.

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