In product design, a decomposition of the overall product function into a set of smaller, interacting functions is usually considered a crucial first step for any computer-supported design tool. Here, we propose a new approach for the decomposition of functions especially suited for later solutions based on Artificial Intelligence.The presented approach defines the decomposition problem in terms of a planning problem-a well established field in Artificial Intelligence. For the planning problem, logic-based solvers can be used to find solutions that compute a useful function structure for the design process. Well-known function libraries from engineering are used as atomic planning steps.The algorithms are evaluated using two different application examples to ensure the transferability of a general function decomposition.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significant potential for product design: AI can check technical and nontechnical constraints on products, it can support a quick design of new product variants and new AI methods may also support creativity. But currently product design and AI are separate communities fostering different terms and theories. This makes a mapping of AI approaches to product design needs difficult and prevents new solutions.As a solution, this paper first clarifies important terms and concepts for the interdisciplinary domain of AI methods in product design. A key contribution of this paper is a new classification of design problems using the four characteristics decomposability, interdependencies, innovation and creativity. Definitions of these concepts are given where they are lacking. Early mappings of these concepts to AI solutions are sketched and verified using design examples. The importance of creativity in product design and a corresponding gap in AI is pointed out for future research.
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