Object oriented knowledge representation and its applications in concurrent design

A novel knowledge representation based on a combined logic and object oriented programming method is presented. The method is developed to provide both symbolic reasoning and numerical calculation functions for concurrent engineering design. In the concurrent design applications, the design, manufacturing, and geometry information about an object is represented and maintained using the symbolic reasoning functions of the introduced knowledge representation. The evaluation and optimization of functional performance and production costs of a design are conducted using the numerical calculation functions of the knowledge representation. The knowledge representation and its application to intelligent concurrent design are illustrated using a prototype system, implemented using Smalltalk-80.<
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