Qualitative Geometric Reasoner for Integrated Design

Abstract

The widespread use of computer-aided drafting (CAD) systems within the engineering domain has provided significant advances in the capability to model design solutions. However, the focus of these systems on detailed design solutions has resulted in a corresponding lack of automated design assistants for the generation of conceptual design solutions, the primary reason being the incompatibility between the emphasis on geometric coordinates in detailed design and the emphasis on qualitative definitions in conceptual design. This paper presents one approach to bridging this representation gap, through the use of a qualitative geometric reasoner for integrated design (GRID). The paper presents a prototype GRID system that uses artificial intelligence representation and reasoning techniques to interpret CAD models and respond to qualitative geometric queries from automated design assistants within an integrated design environment. The expansion of qualitative geometric reasoning beyond spatial reasoning to include temporal and logical reasoning is introduced as a primary focus of the GRID system.