A case-based mechanical redesign system

Abstract

We present a system, FIRST, that redesigns structural beams by accessing a case memory of solution plans. FIRST starts by analysing an existing design, using general knowledge about elementary physics. If design constraints are unsatisfied, FIRST searches for similar problem situations in its case memory and retrieves the solution plans associated to those situations. The system performs a transfer by analogy of each plan into the new problem situation and combines the transferred plans and symbolic analysis knowledge into a global redesign plan that is applied to the problem. FIRST is implemented in BB1, a blackboard system that allows the cooperation of problem solving knowledge from different sources. The system, that includes general methods for transferring a plan by analogy and mapping parts of it into a new problem situation is described through the analysis and redesign of a round cantilever beam. 1