Validation of Function Pruning Rules Through Similarity at Three Levels of Abstraction

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin W. Caldwell ◽  
Gregory M. Mocko
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Clustering Algorithm ◽  
Controlled Vocabulary ◽  
Design Activity ◽  
Conceptual Level ◽  
Levels Of Abstraction ◽  
Similarity Metric ◽  
Level Of Abstraction ◽  
Design By Analogy ◽  
Function Models

Function modeling is often used in the conceptual design phase as an approach to capture a form-independent purpose of a product. Previous research uses a repository of reverse-engineered function models to support conceptual-based design tools, such as similarity and design-by-analogy. These models, however, are created at a different level of abstraction than models created in conceptual design for new products. In this paper, a set of pruning rules is developed to generate an abstract, conceptual-level model from a reverse-engineered function model. The conceptual-level models are compared to two additional levels of abstraction that are available in a design repository. The abstract models developed through the pruning rules are tested using a similarity metric to understand their usefulness in conceptual design. The similarity of 128 products is computed using the Functional Basis controlled vocabulary and a matrix-based similarity metric at each level of abstraction. A matrix-based clustering algorithm is then applied to the similarity results to identify groups of similar products. A subset of these products is studied to further compare the three levels of abstraction and to validate the pruning rules. It is shown that the pruning rules are able to convert reverse-engineered function models to conceptual-level models, better supporting design-by-analogy, a conceptual-stage design activity.

Functional Similarity at Varying Levels of Abstraction

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin W. Caldwell ◽  
Gregory M. Mocko
Keyword(s):  
Clustering Algorithm ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
Controlled Vocabulary ◽  
Functional Similarity ◽  
Concept Generation ◽  
Levels Of Abstraction ◽  
Similarity Metric ◽  
Conceptual Design Phase ◽  
Functional Models ◽  
Function Models

Function modeling is often used in the conceptual design phase as an approach to capture a form-independent purpose of a product. Current research efforts have focused on the formalization of functional models, development of function-based design repositories, and concept generation based on a quantitative functional similarity metric. In this paper, three levels of abstraction of function models are obtained by including supporting functions, excluding supporting functions, and applying abstraction rules to function models of 128 products in a design repository. The similarity of these products is computed using the Functional Basis controlled vocabulary and a matrix-based similarity metric. A matrix-based clustering algorithm is then applied to the similarity results to identify groups of similar products. A subset of these products is then studied to further compare the three levels of abstraction and to validate the results. Similarity between consumer products depends on the level of abstraction of the models, with higher levels of abstraction producing better results.

Abstraction As a Configuration Design Methodology

1993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary L. Snavely ◽  
Panos Y. Papalambros
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Configuration Design ◽  
Levels Of Abstraction ◽  
Level Of Abstraction ◽  
Abstraction Levels

Abstract Configuration design can be thought of as a process of generating artifacts by assembling pre-defined components. This paper introduces a method for reducing the size of configuration problems by abstracting components to higher levels of abstraction. At higher abstraction levels, less important detail is temporarily ignored, and each component represents a family of lower-level components. Configuration is then performed at the highest level, explicitly enumerating all configurations at that level. Any complete configuration at the highest level is recursively instantiated to lower levels. At the same time, any incomplete configuration at the highest level is eliminated, thereby eliminating all possible lower-level instantiations of that configuration. In this manner, all configurations of components at the lowest level of abstraction are implicitly enumerated.

The Classification System of Literary Works Based on K-Means Clustering

2021 ◽  
pp. 2141001
Author(s):  
Sanqiang Wei ◽  
Hongxia Hou ◽  
Hua Sun ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
Wenxia Song
Keyword(s):  
Clustering Algorithm ◽  
Performance Ratio ◽  
Levels Of Abstraction ◽  
Text Documents ◽  
Text Data ◽  
Literary Works ◽  
Accuracy Comparison ◽  
Word Classification ◽  
Text Features ◽  
And Performance

The plots in certain literary works are very complicated and hinder readers from understanding them. Therefore tools should be proposed to support readers; comprehension of complex literary works supports their understanding by providing the most important information to readers. A human reader must capture multiple levels of abstraction and meaning to formulate an understanding of a document. Hence, in this paper, an Improved [Formula: see text]-means clustering algorithm (IKCA) has been proposed for literary word classification. For text data, the words that can express exact semantic in a class are generally better features. This paper uses the proposed technique to capture numerous cluster centroids for every class and then select the high-frequency words in centroids the text features for classification. Furthermore, neural networks have been used to classify text documents and [Formula: see text]-mean to cluster text documents. To develop the model based on unsupervised and supervised techniques to meet and identify the similarity between documents. The numerical results show that the suggested model will enhance to increases quality comparison of the existing Algorithm and [Formula: see text]-means algorithm, accuracy comparison of ALA and IKCA (95.2%), time is taken for clustering is less than 2 hours, success rate (97.4%) and performance ratio (98.1%).

A Formal Approach to Design Specifications

1990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Kusiak ◽  
Edward Szczerbicki
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Design Problem ◽  
Functional Space ◽  
Requirements Specification ◽  
Synthesis Process ◽  
Formal Approach ◽  
Design Specifications ◽  
Level Of Abstraction ◽  
Active Interaction

Abstract In this paper a methodology for the specification stage in conceptual design is presented. It allows for problem solving in an active interaction with the designer. An important part of the proposed methodology is the requiremental and functional tree representing the overall logic and structure of the design problem. The specification stage aims at providing requirements and transforming them into functions of the designed object. It occurs at the highest level of abstraction and it must provide enough information to begin the synthesis process where functions are transformed into design components that are further synthesized into the designed object. The proposed approach was motivated by the following problems: specification of requirements, specification of functions, incorporation of logic into functional and requiremental trees, representation of requirements-functions interaction, and optimization in the functional space. The methodology presented is illustrated with examples.

Flame: A Manufacturability Evaluator for Use at Different Levels of Abstraction

1995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse D. Peplinski ◽  
Patrick N. Koch ◽  
Janet K. Allen ◽  
Farrokh Mistree
Keyword(s):  
Levels Of Abstraction ◽  
Computer Tool ◽  
Time Line ◽  
Design For Manufacture ◽  
Level Of Abstraction ◽  
Solution Scheme ◽  
Selection Decision ◽  
Manufacturing Alternatives ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract How can design for manufacture be implemented very early on a design time-line, for example, when only the function is known? Our response is embodied in an approach to design for manufacture at the function level of abstraction based on the notion of design using available assets. In this paper we focus on the solution scheme and computer implementation of our approach to design for manufacture. Our solution scheme takes the form of a Heuristic Selection Decision Support Problem, and our computer tool is called FLAME: the Function Level of Abstraction Manufacturability Evaluator. We use this tool to identify, evaluate and select potential manufacturing alternatives for products modeled at the function level of abstraction. We illustrate some of its uses by exploring the selection of manufacturing processes and materials for a component from a design of an aircraft evacuation system, although our focus is on the method rather than on the results per se.

SUPPORTING AGENT-ORIENTED MODELLING WITH UML

2002 ◽  
Vol 12 (06) ◽  
pp. 605-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
FEDERICO BERGENTI ◽  
AGOSTINO POGGI
Keyword(s):  
Software Engineering ◽  
Levels Of Abstraction ◽  
Uml Profile ◽  
Code Generator ◽  
Agent Platform ◽  
Level Of Abstraction ◽  
Agent Oriented Software Engineering ◽  
Development Framework ◽  
Interacting Agents ◽  
Multi Agent

Software engineering relies on the possibility of describing a system at different levels of abstraction. Agent-oriented software engineering introduces a new level of abstraction, that we called agent level, to allow the architect modelling a system in terms of interacting agents. This level of abstraction is not supported by an accepted set of tools and notations yet, even if a number of proposals are available. This paper introduces: (i) An UML-based notation capable of modelling a system at the agent level and (ii) A development framework, called ParADE, exploiting such a notation. The notation we propose is formalized in terms of a UML profile and it supports the realisation of artefacts modelling two basic concepts of the agent level, i.e., the architecture of the multi-agent system and the ontology followed by agents. The choice of formalising our notation in terms of a UML profile allows using it with any off-the-shelf CASE tool. The ParADE framework takes advantage of this choice by providing a code generator capable of producing skeletons of FIPA-compliant agents from XMI files of agent-oriented models. The developer is requested to complete the generated skeletons exploiting the services that ParADE and the underlying agent platform provide.

Overview of the DEMO conceptual design activity in Japan

2018 ◽  
Vol 136 ◽  
pp. 1024-1031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenji Tobita ◽  
Ryoji Hiwatari ◽  
Hiroyasu Utoh ◽  
Yuya Miyoshi ◽  
Nobuyuki Asakura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Design Activity

scholarly journals Revisiting Problem-Solution Co-Evolution in the Context of Team Conceptual Design Activity

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (18) ◽  
pp. 6303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomislav Martinec ◽  
Stanko Škec ◽  
Marija Majda Perišić ◽  
Mario Štorga
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Design Education ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Solution Space ◽  
Design Activity ◽  
Problem Solution ◽  
Conceptual Design Phase ◽  
Design Activities ◽  
Conventional Models ◽  
Concept Review

The conventional prescriptive and descriptive models of design typically decompose the overall design process into elementary processes, such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. This study revisits some of the assumptions established by these models and investigates whether they can also be applied for modelling of problem-solution co-evolution patterns that appear during team conceptual design activities. The first set of assumptions concerns the relationship between performing analysis, synthesis, and evaluation and exploring the problem and solution space. The second set concerns the dominant sequences of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, whereas the third set concerns the nature of transitions between the problem and solution space. The assumptions were empirically tested as part of a protocol analysis study of team ideation and concept review activities. Besides revealing inconsistencies in how analysis, synthesis, and evaluation are defined and interpreted across the literature, the study demonstrates co-evolution patterns, which cannot be described by the conventional models. It highlights the important role of analysis-synthesis cycles during both divergent and convergent activities, which is co-evolution and refinement, respectively. The findings are summarised in the form of a model of the increase in the number of new problem and solution entities as the conceptual design phase progresses, with implications for both design research and design education.

Evaluation of the functional basis using an information theoretic approach

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiradeep Sen ◽  
Benjamin W. Caldwell ◽  
Joshua D. Summers ◽  
Gregory M. Mocko
Keyword(s):  
Information Content ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
Controlled Vocabulary ◽  
Theoretic Approach ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Information Theoretic ◽  
Functional Basis ◽  
Information Theoretic Approach ◽  
Function Models ◽  
Key Terms

AbstractA metric for computing the information content of function models in mechanical engineering design is proposed. Function models are graph-based representations used to describe the functionality of engineered artifacts, where the nodes are function verbs and the edges are the objects of action. The functional basis, a controlled vocabulary of these verbs and nouns organized in a three level hierarchy, is intended to support consistent representation of function models. The Design Repository is a Web-based archive of function models of consumer products described with the functional basis. This paper presents the theoretical underpinnings of a metric for the information content of function models, the assumptions required to support it, the definitions of key terms associated with it, and its practical interpretation. Finally, the metric is used to study the usefulness of the functional basis through a series of experiments on function models within the Design Repository. The results of the experiment indicate that the secondary level of the functional basis is the most beneficial to designers, both in terms of information content and information density.

Applications and prospects for AI in mechanical engineering design

1990 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian M. Carter
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Mechanical Engineering ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Computer Support ◽  
Design Activity ◽  
Engineering Systems ◽  
Design Systems ◽  
Broad Subject ◽  
Future Topics

AbstractMechanical engineering design is a broad subject area covering many topics and bas influences upon many other engineering disciplines and activities. Computer support for mechanical engineering design activity has been in draughting Systems and analysis packages, but there has been little in conceptual design assistance. This paper presents a number of areas of work in which AI techniques and developments are being used, sometimes in conjunction with traditional methods, to improve the support of design. The approaches to design and design Systems are covered, along with some techniques that are used. Specifie design Systems illustrate progress, and integration issues and simultaneous engineering Systems indicate the way research is moving. Finally, discussion of the trends and future topics indicates where and how effort may be applied in the future.

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