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

  • Special Section SFB 614
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Abstract

This paper is about tool support for knowledge-intensive 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 problem 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 of several high-level techniques. The red thread of this paper is design automation, but the presented technology does also contribute in the following respects: (a) productivity enhancement by relieving experts from auxiliary and routine tasks; (b) formulation, exchange, and documentation of knowledge about design; (c) requirements engineering, feasibility analysis, and validation.

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  1. Faculty of Media, Media Systems, Bauhaus University Weimar, 99421, Weimar, Germany

    Benno Stein

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  1. Benno Stein
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Correspondence to Benno Stein.

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This research was supported by DFG grants Schw 120/56-3, KL 529/10-3, KL 529/7-3, and KL 529/10-1.

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Stein, B. Coping with large design spaces: design problem solving in fluidic engineering. Int J Softw Tools Technol Transf 10, 233–245 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10009-008-0068-z

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