Presidential Young Investigator Award: Function, Form, and Fabrication Relationships in Design

这项研究的主要目标是确定同时利用设备的形式和功能结构的设计原则和方法。目前正在研究四种基于形式-功能关系的设计辅助方法。利用构件的形式-功能特征来抽象高层设计关系。其次，以一种考虑设计阶段的上下文和分辨率的方式，从组件级行为的集合中推导出设备级形式-功能关系。第三，使用设备级特性来确定主导设计关系。第四，基于对组件功能的机会性利用的综合策略。这项研究计划导致观察到机械部件和装置的形式-功能特征的存在，并可以从物理原理中识别出来。此外，设计决策由与形式和功能有关的考虑因素主导。这些观察结果导致了特定设计表现形式和策略的开发和实施，目前正在评估它们在简单机电设备初步设计中的实用性。

The broad goal of this research is to identify design principles and methods that exploit both the form and functional structure of devices. Four approaches to design assistance based on form-function relationships are being investigated. Form- function characteristics of components are used to abstract high level design relationships. Secondly, device level form-function relationships are derived from the aggregation of component level behaviors in a way that considers the context and resolution of the design stage. Thirdly, device level characteristics are used to determine dominant design relationships. And fourthly, a synthesis strategy is based on the opportunistic utilization of component functionality. This program of research leads to the observation that form-function characteristics of mechanical components and devices exists and can be identified from physical principles. Furthermore, design decisions are dominated by considerations having to do with form and function. These observations have led to the development and implementation of specific design representations and strategies which are being evaluated for their utility in the preliminary design of simple electro-mechanical devices.