Agent-Based Collaborative Design of Parts in Assembly

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, we propose an architecture in which engineering design agents interact with each other, exchange design information and keep track of state information to assist with collaborative design. We present an example involving CAD agents, for which each state corresponds to a particular design model. If a designer publishes a new design, the operation is recorded as a state transition that triggers action. Focusing on the history of design states and operations, we present a coordination algorithm that corresponds to the tracking of Pareto optimality. A prototype implementation is described, using a commercial 3D CAD system and agent interfaces written in Java.