A representation scheme to support conceptual design of mechatronic systems

This paper outlines DROOL, a novel knowledge representation scheme for supporting early stages of the design of multi-technology systems. The key idea behind DROOL is that mechatronic systems should be considered as interlocking flows of matter, energy and information. This provides a powerful framework for thinking about important aspects of conceptual design, and an equally powerful structure for organising a design representation scheme. The paper presents an object model for DROOL, and shows how the scheme describes design concepts at various levels of abstraction, in terms of component hierarchies and interlocking flows. The development of DROOL is part of the FACADE Project, whose aim is to develop intelligent computer tools to facilitate communication among designers with different specialties in concurrent engineering projects. The FACADE System comprises a suite of interfaces with different visual representations to support different conceptual design activities, with a single underlying product representation: DROOL. Development is concentrating on two interfaces with alternative visual representations in which designers can describe the flows of matter, energy and information in mechatronic systems: blob diagrams and concept arrays.