RULE-BASED METHODS CAN HELP AUTOMATE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF COMPOSITE STRUCTURES. A RULE-BASED MODEL IS CAPABLE OF DESCRIBING BOTH GEOMETRIC AND NON-GEOMETRIC ASPECTS OF A DESIGN IN A GENERIC FASHION, ALLOWING RAPID REDESIGN, DESIGN MODIFICATION, AND CAPTURE OF DESIGN INTENT. THIS NEW TECHNIQUE HAS RECENTLY BEEN SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED TO THE AUTOMATED DEVELOPMENT OF TOOLING FOR THE BELL/BOEING V- 22 TILT ROTOR AIRCRAFT. THE PROBLEM WAS TO DEFINE THE MOLD HALVES GIVEN A GEOMETRIC DEFINITION OF THE PART AND A SET OF RULES DEFINING HOW A WHOLE CLASS OF TOOLS IN THE GIVEN SIZE RANGE WAS TYPICALLY DESIGNED. IN THIS MANNER, UP TO 45 HOURS OF ENGINEERING TIME WAS COMPRESSED INTO LESS THAN 30 MINUTES OF AUTOMATIC DESIGN OF THE TOOLING.
| Number of Pages : | 16 |
| Published : | 06/01/1990 |
