A Representation for Algorithmic Expansion of Engineering Designs

Contents

A knowledge representation based on first principles and a library of techniques for expanding the space of design alternatives are reviewed. They have been developed for the algorithmic innovation of engineering designs. The re, suiting l stpRINCE design methodology uses optimization information to decide which expansion technique may produce improved designs and induction to examine limiting behavior. Starting from an initial design, lstpRINCE has algorithmically innovated interesting engineering concepts, such as the electric bus, the tapered and hollow beam, the wheel, and the plug flow reactor.