ISSN:
1435-6066
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
,
Technology
Notes:
Abstract We develop atask-structure for design problem-solving. The task-structure of a complex problemsolving activity such as design is a hierarchical organization of subtasks. For each task in the task-structure, we can then proceed to investigate whatmethods may be available, and what knowledge and inference requirements each of these methods have. Some of the methods may be domain-specific, some of them more generic in character, some may involve traditional computational techniques, and some others may involve searching in a problem space for solutions to the task. However, this systematic process of identifying tasks, methods, and subtasks will help us to see how design as a general problem is solved not by one method or technique but by an opportunistic exploitation of whatever methods are available (i.e., theknowledge required for using a method is available) to help accomplish a subtask. Thus, in principle, very different methods and knowledge can be brought into play in as flexible a way as applicable. For design problem-solving, we provide such an analysis for a family of design methods that we callpropose-verify-critique-modify methods. We end with remarks about how these methods can be flexibly integrated in a control structure that matches the subtasks with methods for which knowledge is available.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01580202
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