A framework to integrate design knowledge reuse and requirements management in engineering design

This paper presents a framework to integrate requirements management and design knowledge reuse. The research approach begins with a literature review in design reuse and requirements management to identify appropriate methods within each domain. A framework is proposed based on the identified requirements. The framework is then demonstrated using a case study example: vacuum pump design. Requirements are presented as a component of the integrated design knowledge framework. The proposed framework enables the application of requirements management as a dynamic process, including capture, analysis and recording of requirements. It takes account of the evolving requirements and the dynamic nature of the interaction between requirements and product structure through the various stages of product development.     

产品设计知识重用研究

产品设计是一个知识积累－重用的循环上升过程，而产品设计知识的管理、利用仍然处于杂乱的状态。针对不同的设计知识形式，采用面向对象技术将知识对象封装成不同的知识单元，综合利用不同的知识表示方法来描述知识单元，从而建立集成于设计对象的产品设计的多类型、多层次知识表达模型，提出了产品设计知识重用概念模型。     

A knowledge support approach for the preliminary design of platform-based products in Engineering-To-Order manufacturing

A product platform is a design approach for meeting the demand for customizable products. Traditional knowledge-based technologies or systems lack flexibility in supporting both configuration and parameter design of platform-based products. In many cases, customers’ requirements and knowledge models both contain incomplete information, and there are complex relations among various solutions, functions and solution parameters in Engineering-To-Order (ETO) products. A knowledge model for the preliminary design of ETO products is presented in this paper, and linkages are established between configuration design knowledge and parameter design procedures. The basis of the knowledge model is the Extended Function-Solutions (EFS) tree, from which design case trees, design modules, constraint checking rules, and module interface templates derive. A corresponding knowledge retrieval and reuse strategy is also presented. It uses an improved fuzzy information axiom to search for the optimal configuration with incomplete information. The parameter design process model of new products then can be generated based on the optimal configuration. The case study demonstrates the knowledge modeling, retrieval and reuse for the preliminary design of open-type crank presses. Moreover, the effectiveness of the methodology is discussed by analyzing the verification approach and the satisfaction of customers’ requirements.     

From participatory design to participating problem solving: Enhancing system adaptability through user modelling

The issue on the role of users in knowledge-based systems can be investigated from two aspects: the design aspect and the functionality aspect. Participatory design is an important approach for the first aspect while system adaptability supported by user modelling is crucial to the second aspect. In the article, we discuss the second aspect. We view a knowledge-based computer system as the partner of users' problem-solving process, and we argue that the system functionality can be enhanced by adapting the behaviour of the system to fit the needs of users with different profiles. We emphasise that the notion of user modelling is crucial to realise such kind of flexibility. User modelling will be beneficial to the user, not only through adaptive interfaces, but also through the enhanced system adaptability. In a knowledge-based system, by incorporating user models, searching can be reduced to a smaller portion in the knowledge-base, thus enhancing system functionality. In other words, user modelling is incorporated to realise flexible inference control to achieve system adaptability. An example is provided, and a general conceptual model is sketched. We conclude this paper by emphasising that the design aspect and functionality aspect are complementary. Achieving enhanced functionality through joint efforts of computers and human users indicates a kind of participatory execution of computerised problem-solving or participatory problem-solving.     

A process knowledge representation approach for decision support in design of complex engineered systems

Process knowledge is of considerable significance to the digitalization and intelligentization of the manufacturing industry. Current research on the process knowledge representation of decision-making in engineering design has predominantly focused on either mathematical models of individual decisions at the micro-level or organizational models of group decision consensus at the macro-level. However, the management of complexity and uncertainty in the model-based realization of engineered systems is critical to achieving rational, comprehensive, and robust decisions, especially in terms of knowledge-intensive design. The efficiency and effectiveness of decisions in system design are intrinsically linked to the process, knowledge, and system concepts involved, necessitating a more flexible and systematic decision process representation scheme that supports both the management of complexity and uncertainty. Hence, in this paper, we propose a decision-centric design process representation scheme named the Phase-Event-Information X (PEI-X) diagram and its corresponding systematic design guidance method for designing decision workflows. Using the proposed method, designers have the ability to (1) model hierarchical decision processes that cover vertical and horizontal interaction patterns, and (2) exploit the synthesis of the “Formulating-Identifying-Reusing-Exploring” iterative process to extend the understanding and prediction of decision process behaviors in design. We achieve the aforesaid abilities through the implementation of a knowledge-based design guidance system for collaborative decision support and we demonstrate the efficacy by adopting a specific multi-stage manufacturing process design problem, hot rod rolling system design, and carry out an integrated design of materials, products, and related manufacturing processes.     

基于虚拟样机的复杂产品协同设计与仿真关键技术研究

主要研究并行工程环境下复杂产品虚拟样机协同设计与仿真的体系结构及其关键技术。提出虚拟样机协同设计与仿真系统的体系结构与整体解决方案,研究面向虚拟样机的数字化多领域集成建模理论与方法,建立面向虚拟样机开发全生命周期的集成过程管理与冲突协调模型,提出面向复杂产品虚拟样机开发的多学科协同设计、协同仿真和智能决策支持的理论与方法,建立复杂产品虚拟样机协同支持环境,有效提高企业创新能力和核心竞争力。     

The role of assumptions in knowledge engineering

Problem-solving methods are means of describing the inference process of knowledge-based systems. In recent years, a number of these problem-solving methods have been identified that can be reused for building new systems. However, problem-solving methods require specific types of domain knowledge and introduce specific restrictions on the tasks that can be solved by them. These requirements and restrictions are assumptions that play a key role in the reuse of problem-solving methods, in the acquisition of domain knowledge, and in the definition of the problem that can be tackled by knowledge-based systems. In this paper we discuss the different roles assumptions play in the development of knowledge-based systems and provide a survey of assumptions used in diagnostic problem solving. We show how such assumptions introduce targets and bias for goal-driven machine learning and knowledge discovery techniques. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Component-based tailorability: Enabling highly flexible software applications

Component technologies are perceived as an important means to keep software architectures flexible. Flexibility offered by component technologies typically addresses software developers at design time. However, the design of software which should support social systems, such as work groups or communities, also demands ‘use-time’, or technically spoken, ‘run-time’ flexibility. In this paper, we summarize a decade of research efforts on component-based approaches to flexibilize groupware applications at run-time. We address the user as a ‘casual programmer’ who develops and individualizes software for his work context. To deal with the challenges of run-time flexibility, we developed a design approach which covers three levels: software architecture, user interface, and collaboration support. With regard to the software architecture, a component model, called FlexiBeans, has been developed. The FreEvolve platform serves as an environment in which component-based applications can be tailored at run-time. Additionally, we have developed three different types of graphical user interfaces, enabling users to tailor their applications by recomposing components. To enable collaborative tailoring activities, we have integrated functions that allow sharing component structures among users. We also present different types of support techniques which are integrated into the user interface in order to enable users’ individual and collaborative tailoring activities. We conclude by elaborating on the notion of ‘software infrastructure’ which offers a holistic approach to support design activities of professional and non-professional programmers.     

Knowledge-based system for collaborative process specification

This paper presents an ontology-based approach for the design of a collaborative business process model (CBP). This CBP is considered as a specification of needs in order to build a collaboration information system (CIS) for a network of organizations. The study is a part of a model-driven engineering approach of the CIS in a specific enterprise interoperability framework that will be summarised. An adaptation of the Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN) is used to represent the CBP model. We develop a knowledge-based system (KbS) which is composed of three main parts: knowledge gathering, knowledge representation and reasoning, and collaborative business process modelling. The first part starts from a high abstraction level where knowledge from business partners is captured. A collaboration ontology is defined in order to provide a structure to store and use the knowledge captured. In parallel, we try to reuse generic existing knowledge about business processes from the MIT Process Handbook repository. This results in a collaboration process ontology that is also described. A set of rules is defined in order to extract knowledge about fragments of the CBP model from the two previous ontologies. These fragments are finally assembled in the third part of the KbS. A prototype of the KbS has been developed in order to implement and support this approach. The prototype is a computer-aided design tool of the CBP. In this paper, we will present the theoretical aspects of each part of this KbS as well as the tools that we developed and used in order to support its functionalities.     

Research on an active knowledge push service based on collaborative intent capture

The quality of a knowledge service influences the quality, efficiency and innovation of product conceptual design. Existing approaches lack intelligence and individuation when providing a knowledge retrieval service via rules and cases. In this paper, we propose a framework of an active knowledge service based on collaborative intent capture to assist product conceptual design. First, a collaborative intent capture model is constructed through the study of the expression and capture of collaborative intent; second, a framework and a process of active knowledge push based on collaborative intent capture are designed after analyzing the method of knowledge resources acquisition based on the constraint satisfaction theory. Finally, match algorithms for text content are studied. Based on the above research achievements, a prototype system of a collaborative design and active knowledge service platform (C-AKSP) has been developed for providing a knowledge service and assisting product conceptual design. An example, the conceptual design of a machine tool spindle system, is used to validate the proposed theories for the model, the framework and the algorithm. As a result, C-AKSP can provide a superior knowledge service that meets the designer's knowledge needs.     

An organizational approach to designing an intelligent knowledge-based system: Application to the decision-making process in design projects

Knowledge-based engineering (KBE) approaches are designed to reduce the time and cost of product development by capturing, retaining and re-using design knowledge. They currently focus on repetitive design tasks where knowledge is considered as a static resource. However, knowledge is intrinsically linked to the organizations and people who use it. Thus, to be efficient, these knowledge-based systems (KBS) have to be able to take into account all the mechanisms of knowledge creation, sharing and evaluation made by the users. Using the agent paradigm, new knowledge-based systems can be designed in order to address this research issue. Indeed, the agents have social abilities and are able to achieve very complex tasks. These two features are necessary for making a knowledge-based system efficient. However, there still exists today a lack of approaches and methodologies to help design such applications. This paper presents DOCK, a methodology to design an intelligent knowledge-based system that aims to support the knowledge management process. In order to take into account all the mechanisms of knowledge generation, sharing and re-use, DOCK is based on the hypothesis that efficient modelling of human organizations, by highlighting their roles, collaborations, skills, goals and knowledge, will help the KBS designer to specify an adapted knowledge-based system. Finally, DOCK is implemented to design the SMA SNOTRA that is dedicated to supporting a decision-making process for design projects.     

Tangible geospatial modeling for collaborative solutions to invasive species management

Managing landscape-scale environmental problems, such as biological invasions, can be facilitated by integrating realistic geospatial models with user-friendly interfaces that stakeholders can use to make critical management decisions. However, gaps between scientific theory and application have typically limited opportunities for model-based knowledge to reach the stakeholders responsible for problem-solving. To address this challenge, we introduce Tangible Landscape, an open-source participatory modeling tool providing an interactive, shared arena for consensus-building and development of collaborative solutions for landscape-scale problems. Using Tangible Landscape, stakeholders gather around a geographically realistic 3D visualization and explore management scenarios with instant feedback; users direct model simulations with intuitive tangible gestures and compare alternative strategies with an output dashboard. We applied Tangible Landscape to the complex problem of managing the emerging infectious disease, sudden oak death, in California and explored its potential to generate co-learning and collaborative management strategies among actors representing stakeholders with competing management aims.     

An ontology-based support for product conceptual design

The research presented in this paper is a follow-up of our prior work involving the development of a graphical modeling tool to support designers at the conceptual design stage. To close the loop for supporting designers in generating design concepts flexibly, fast, and easily, an ontology-based approach for knowledge management that works along with the graphical modeling tool is discussed. Ontology and databases for the tool are developed to promote the systematic capture of design knowledge and efficient reuse of the design knowledge selection. In order to locate the proper information and query the data from the databases, the relationship between the ontology and databases, the data analysis process, ontology enrichment, and the ontology-based query engine are built to offer users multiple design results according to users’ requirements. A tire design example is presented to demonstrate the proposed approach. The ontology-based method described in this paper can help retrieve and save the complex relations, support the reasoning, integrate heterogeneous data resources and offer users more accurate, proper and comprehensive data.     

A KBES for integrated engineering

The expert process of engineering involves application of knowledge fundamental to the engineering process at one end, and of compiled knowledge in the form of heuristics gained through many years of experience at the other. Developments in Artificial Intelligence have made the process of computer aided engineering richer by enabling the simulation of this human process of engineering, which until now has been difficult to capture. Knowledge Based Expert Systems (KBES) in engineering developed so far have addressed only narrow domains of the entire process of engineering. This paper discusses a KBES shell (IES) that integrates various AI technologies, which makes it possible to implement new problem-solving strategies required for efficient handling of the entire engineering process. Issues in the integrated process of engineering are discussed first, in order to evolve a specification for the shell. The blackboard architecture is shown to be the ideal backbone for such a shell. The details of inference techniques, the knowledge based backtracking mechanism and the DBMS used in the IES are presented. The application of the IES is demonstrated using the domain of integrated engineering of steel industrial structures as an example. This application encompasses the engineering activities of conceptual design, detailed design, documentation and construction planning.     

Application of knowledge-based approaches in software architecture: A systematic mapping study

ContextKnowledge management technologies have been employed across software engineering activities for more than two decades. Knowledge-based approaches can be used to facilitate software architecting activities (e.g., architectural evaluation). However, there is no comprehensive understanding on how various knowledge-based approaches (e.g., knowledge reuse) are employed in software architecture.ObjectiveThis work aims to collect studies on the application of knowledge-based approaches in software architecture and make a classification and thematic analysis on these studies, in order to identify the gaps in the existing application of knowledge-based approaches to various architecting activities, and promising research directions.MethodA systematic mapping study is conducted for identifying and analyzing the application of knowledge-based approaches in software architecture, covering the papers from major databases, journals, conferences, and workshops, published between January 2000 and March 2011.ResultsFifty-five studies were selected and classified according to the architecting activities they contribute to and the knowledge-based approaches employed. Knowledge capture and representation (e.g., using an ontology to describe architectural elements and their relationships) is the most popular approach employed in architecting activities. Knowledge recovery (e.g., documenting past architectural design decisions) is an ignored approach that is seldom used in software architecture. Knowledge-based approaches are mostly used in architectural evaluation, while receive the least attention in architecture impact analysis and architectural implementation.ConclusionsThe study results show an increased interest in the application of knowledge-based approaches in software architecture in recent years. A number of knowledge-based approaches, including knowledge capture and representation, reuse, sharing, recovery, and reasoning, have been employed in a spectrum of architecting activities. Knowledge-based approaches have been applied to a wide range of application domains, among which “Embedded software” has received the most attention.     

Integrity validation in semantic engineering design environment

A collaborative engineering design environment has been devised based on semantic Web technologies. The Semantic Engineering Design Environment (SEDE) consists of Engineering Ontology, Design Rules, Design Database, and Design Data Web Service. The Design Data Web Service provides users APIs (Application Programming Interface) so that distributed Design Participants interface each other. The domain knowledge of design objects can be logically expressed by OWL (Web Ontology Language). Design rules regarding change management are encoded in XQuery and stored as database triggers. Once design data changes, associated design rules will be validated by database systems. In this paper we introduce the overall architecture of the collaborative engineering design environment and present working scenarios with examples.     

Knowledge-based approach and system for assembly-oriented design,Part II: the system implementation

Assembly is one of the most important stages for product development. Assembly-oriented design (AOD) is a new approach to designing assemblies, which uses a number of design and analysis tools to help the designer plan out and analyze candidate assembly schemes prior to having detailed knowledge of the geometry of the parts. Using this approach, many assembly schemes can be inexpensively evaluated for their ability to deliver the important characteristics of the final product. This research proposes a knowledge-based approach and develops an expert design system to support top-down design for assembled products. The presentation of research report is divided into two parts: the knowledge-based approach (Part I) and the knowledge-based expert design system (Part II). This paper is the second part of the report (Part II). It will focus on the development of knowledge-based expert design system for assembly oriented design. The knowledge-based assembly oriented design system, i.e., the assembly oriented design expert system (AODES) is constructed to integrate assembly modeling and design, assembly planning, assemblability analysis and evaluation within a concurrent engineering environment. This intelligent system is implemented by integrating object-oriented representation, constraint-based modeling, rule-based reasoning, truth maintenance, and interfacing to database management system and CAD module, in which fuzzy logic based knowledge representation and inference technique are also applied to deal with uncertain data and knowledge in the design process. The developed system differs from the existing systems adopting part-first bottom-up modeling technique, in which a comprehensive intelligent framework is used for assembly modeling and design in a top-down manner from the conceptual level to the detailed level. It is able to help obtain better design ideas, provide users with suggestions so as to create and improve a design, and therefore give users the possibility to assess and reduce the total production cost at an early stage during the design process. Through the use of the system, the concurrent engineering knowledge can be effectively incorporated into the assembly design process in an integrated manner. A case assembly design shows that the intelligent modeling and design system is feasible.     

A collaborative Design for Usability approach supported by Virtual Reality and a Multi-Agent System embedded in a PLM environment

This paper details a collaborative workstation design approach integrating knowledge based on engineering process, using a Multi-Agent System (MAS) on a Virtual Reality (VR) platform. The MAS supports R&D teams to extract and re-use engineering knowledge so as to improve their efficiency in developing new products. Our research targets the development of a knowledge engineering system integrated into a PLM-Product Life cycle Management-environment linked with virtual reality tools. A PLM is a strategic business approach with a consistent set of methodologies and software solutions. It is meant to promote collaborative creation, management, delivery and proper use of this life cycle definition and information product in multinational companies. This system is used by engineers to carry out projects in a collective way while conveying a defined process. The MAS allows capitalization, and to annotate knowledge according to the actions of the designers inside a PLM environment. Then, this knowledge is used by VR tools to analyze various aspects of the virtual prototype such as manufacturing, maintenance, reliability or ergonomics. Consequently, we use expert knowledge to pilot the design process of a virtual prototype inside a three-dimensional immersive virtual reality platform. In this context, our paper describes our knowledge management approach applied to improve ergonomics and collaborative design in industrial areas.     

Knowledge capitalisation through case bases and knowledge engineering for road safety analysis

New generation knowledge-based systems should be fully integrated into their environment, by exploiting existing information sources, and should be flexible and easily extensible. This article describes the architecture of an organisational memory (OM) for road safety analysis. Starting from the design of a knowledge-based system, we show how we address knowledge capitalisation issues through the building of an OM. We present its main components and describe how knowledge engineering techniques can be exploited to build and enrich it. We then describe the major task that exploits the OM as decision support for site analysis. We also explain how domain knowledge can be exploited and capitalised using case-based reasoning and collaborative work.     

An integrated platform of collaborative project management and silicon intellectual property management for IC design industry

Due to the rapid growth of consumer electronics market, there are urgent needs in effective execution of integrated circuit (IC) collaborative design projects and better utilization of silicon intellectual property (SIP) as design knowledge on a virtual design cyber-space. In order to provide IC industry a well-integrated design environment, this research proposes an integrated information platform which combines the project management (PM) module, the design knowledge (e.g., SIP) management module and the collaborative working environment for the IC industry. With the project management module, the R&D team leaders can better monitor, coordinate and control design tasks among partners and their schedules to shorten the time to market. Moreover, a knowledge exchange environment, supported by the design knowledge management module, enriches the design chain productivity and efficiency. Finally, the integration of collaborative working space is the propeller to enable collaborative design. With the unique platform that integrates collaborative project and SIP knowledge management, IC companies gain competitive advantages when working as a virtual design team.