Applications and prospects for AI in mechanical engineering design

Mechanical engineering design is a broad subject area covering many topics and bas influences upon many other engineering disciplines and activities. Computer support for mechanical engineering design activity has been in draughting Systems and analysis packages, but there has been little in conceptual design assistance. This paper presents a number of areas of work in which AI techniques and developments are being used, sometimes in conjunction with traditional methods, to improve the support of design. The approaches to design and design Systems are covered, along with some techniques that are used. Specifie design Systems illustrate progress, and integration issues and simultaneous engineering Systems indicate the way research is moving. Finally, discussion of the trends and future topics indicates where and how effort may be applied in the future.