Research on a Theory of Design Change

预测人工制品设计变更的合理后果的心理过程是设计过程中的重要步骤。 这项研究解决了发展设计变更理论的问题。 其前提是人工制品的几何设计的增量变化可以通过逻辑和数学理论来正式解释，类似于在许多领域中使用的自动规划和仿真系统中的那些。 调查的主题是设计，设计师意图和约束的表示。 目前正在开发一种改变设计的演绎过程的计算模型。 该模型使用模态量化逻辑Z中表达的框架法则和缺省约束。 其他工作包括探索三维几何事实的自动演绎问题，一致性分析，以及开发适当的工程设计行为和意图的分类。

The mental process of predicting the reasonable consequences of a change in the design of an artifact is an important step in the design process. This research addresses issues in developing a theory of design change. The premise is that the incremental changing of the geometric design of an artifact may be formally explained by logical and mathematical theories, similar to those in automated planning and simulation systems which are used in many fields. Topics being investigated are representation of designs, designer intentions, and constraints. A computational model of the deductive process of changing a design is being developed. The model uses frame laws and default constraints expressed in the modal quantificational logic Z. Other work includes exploring problems of automated deduction of facts in three dimensional geometry, consistency analysis, and developing a taxonomy of appropriate engineering design actions and intents.