Evolutionary Design and Re-design Using Design Parameters and Goals

Design parameters and goals play important roles in design. Design goals are the required functions of the design elements and explicitly expressed by design parameters. Design parameters also indicate the relations among design elements, by which constraint networks can be constructed and some useful information can be induced. In this study, the mechanical design process is assumed to be the assignment of design goals and their realization through the evolutionary refinement of the design parameters. Thus an integrated design system is proposed to support the process of assigning the design goals and refining the values of the design parameters. In the design system, a genetic engine that utilizes a genetic algorithm is installed to simulate an iterative design process, which leads to an evolutionary design. The genetic engine treats design parameters as genes and design goals as evaluation function. Re-design and design modification are facilitated by the design parameters. The re-design can be activated in the design system by using the information stored in the design parameters when design parameters or goals are changed.