87,357 research outputs found
KOMBASE - a knowledge representation system with frames for an object-oriented knowledge base
Knowledge representation is an important area of research which is currently being done in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In order to manipulate the wealth of information available in a typical AI application, mechanisms must be provided to represent and to reason with knowledge at a high level of abstraction. Knowledge representation with frames is a structured and object-oriented approach to this problem. KOMBASE is a prototype to a frame-based system containing organizational information of companies and other corporate bodies. This paper describes the approach adopted in the development of KOMBASE and discusses its implementation, particularly from a knowledge representational perspective
Product Focused Freeform Fabrication Education
Presented in this paper is our experience of teaching freeform fabrication to students at
the Missouri University of Science and Technology, and to high school students and
teachers. The emphasis of the curriculum is exposing students to rapid product
development technologies with the goal of creating awareness to emerging career
opportunities in CAD/CAM. Starting from solid modeling, principles of freeform
fabrication, to applications of rapid prototyping and manufacturing in industry sponsored
product development projects, students can learn in-depth freeform fabrication
technologies. Interactive course content with hands-on experience for product
development is the key towards the success of the program.Mechanical Engineerin
Integrating Distributed Sources of Information for Construction Cost Estimating using Semantic Web and Semantic Web Service technologies
A construction project requires collaboration of several organizations such as owner, designer, contractor, and material supplier organizations. These organizations need to exchange information to enhance their teamwork. Understanding the information received from other organizations requires specialized human resources. Construction cost estimating is one of the processes that requires information from several sources including a building information model (BIM) created by designers, estimating assembly and work item information maintained by contractors, and construction material cost data provided by material suppliers. Currently, it is not easy to integrate the information necessary for cost estimating over the Internet. This paper discusses a new approach to construction cost estimating that uses Semantic Web technology. Semantic Web technology provides an infrastructure and a data modeling format that enables accessing, combining, and sharing information over the Internet in a machine processable format. The estimating approach presented in this paper relies on BIM, estimating knowledge, and construction material cost data expressed in a web ontology language. The approach presented in this paper makes the various sources of estimating data accessible as Simple Protocol and Resource Description Framework Query Language (SPARQL) endpoints or Semantic Web Services. We present an estimating application that integrates distributed information provided by project designers, contractors, and material suppliers for preparing cost estimates. The purpose of this paper is not to fully automate the estimating process but to streamline it by reducing human involvement in repetitive cost estimating activities
Adaptive development and maintenance of user-centric software systems
A software system cannot be developed without considering the various facets of its environment. Stakeholders â including the users that play a central role â have their needs, expectations, and perceptions of a system. Organisational and technical aspects of the environment are constantly changing. The ability to adapt a software system and its requirements to its environment throughout its
full lifecycle is of paramount importance in a constantly changing environment. The continuous involvement of users is as important as the constant evaluation of the system and the observation of evolving environments. We present a methodology for adaptive software systems development and
maintenance. We draw upon a diverse range of accepted methods including participatory design, software architecture, and evolutionary design. Our focus is on user-centred software systems
Realising the open virtual commissioning of modular automation systems
To address the challenges in the automotive industry posed by the need to rapidly manufacture more
product variants, and the resultant need for more adaptable production systems, radical changes are
now required in the way in which such systems are developed and implemented. In this context, two
enabling approaches for achieving more agile manufacturing, namely modular automation systems
and virtual commissioning, are briefly reviewed in this contribution. Ongoing research conducted at
Loughborough University which aims to provide a modular approach to automation systems design
coupled with a virtual engineering toolset for the (re)configuration of such manufacturing
automation systems is reported. The problems faced in the virtual commissioning of modular
automation systems are outlined. AutomationML - an emerging neutral data format which has
potential to address integration problems is discussed. The paper proposes and illustrates a
collaborative framework in which AutomationML is adopted for the data exchange and data
representation of related models to enable efficient open virtual prototype construction and virtual
commissioning of modular automation systems. A case study is provided to show how to create the
data model based on AutomationML for describing a modular automation system
Open Programming Language Interpreters
Context: This paper presents the concept of open programming language
interpreters and the implementation of a framework-level metaobject protocol
(MOP) to support them. Inquiry: We address the problem of dynamic interpreter
adaptation to tailor the interpreter's behavior on the task to be solved and to
introduce new features to fulfill unforeseen requirements. Many languages
provide a MOP that to some degree supports reflection. However, MOPs are
typically language-specific, their reflective functionality is often
restricted, and the adaptation and application logic are often mixed which
hardens the understanding and maintenance of the source code. Our system
overcomes these limitations. Approach: We designed and implemented a system to
support open programming language interpreters. The prototype implementation is
integrated in the Neverlang framework. The system exposes the structure,
behavior and the runtime state of any Neverlang-based interpreter with the
ability to modify it. Knowledge: Our system provides a complete control over
interpreter's structure, behavior and its runtime state. The approach is
applicable to every Neverlang-based interpreter. Adaptation code can
potentially be reused across different language implementations. Grounding:
Having a prototype implementation we focused on feasibility evaluation. The
paper shows that our approach well addresses problems commonly found in the
research literature. We have a demonstrative video and examples that illustrate
our approach on dynamic software adaptation, aspect-oriented programming,
debugging and context-aware interpreters. Importance: To our knowledge, our
paper presents the first reflective approach targeting a general framework for
language development. Our system provides full reflective support for free to
any Neverlang-based interpreter. We are not aware of any prior application of
open implementations to programming language interpreters in the sense defined
in this paper. Rather than substituting other approaches, we believe our system
can be used as a complementary technique in situations where other approaches
present serious limitations
Conceptual Graphs in CAD
This paper elaborates on the use of conceptual graphs in a prototype of a computer based support system for re-design. Re-design support involves the modelling of assemblies and components. The requirements of the components to be modelled are a compromise between the functioning of the assembly and the manufacturability of the individual components. Conceptual graphs provide for an elegant way of representing both functioning and manufacturing aspects. In the prototype system, conceptual graphs are used for representing and defining assemblies, components and features as well as the relations between these entities. Constraints, such as kinematic, tolerance and manufacturing constraints are also represented using conceptual graphs
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Approach Tolerance in the Assemblies of Evolutionary Hybrid Prototypes
A new answer is proposed to replace the traditional âone shotâ prototype (manufactured in
one piece with one process): the hybrid rapid prototype. It is used to highly reduce time,
cost and increase reactivity during the development times of new products.
The part is decomposed in several components which can quickly be changed and can be
manufactured with a process the most adapted.
The main objective of the presented method is to propose an available technological
assembly between the different components of the part in the respect of technological and
topological function, and initial tolerance.
Using a graph of representation, fuzzy logic and a tolerance point of view, some entities are
associated with a CIA (Assembly Identity Card) in accordance with evolutionary and
manufacturing analysis. This work will be illustrated by an industrial tooling for plastic
injection.Mechanical Engineerin
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