Computer-supported shape conceptualization - interfacing engineers with academic research

摘要

In spite of the advances of current Computer Aided Design (CAD) Systems, the conceptual phases of design still suffer from a lack of appropriate software support tools. Contemporary research toward design support and automation puts substantial effort into the development of improved Computer Aided Conceptual Design (CACD) and Computer Aided Industrial Design (CAID) systems, both by industrial R&D and by science academia. However, there appears to be a severe issue concerning the interplay between academic research and the concrete needs of designers in industry [1]. A recent survey [2] in France of small and medium enterprises revealed that the majority of these companies declared that they do not use any academic method or procedure in the design stage, except in detailed design. The proliferation of CAD in the conceptual design and styling departments is significant, but still far from what could be expected, considering the almost unlimited flexibility and freedom that recent modelers provide to the user Gaining understanding of this apparent mismatch was our motivation to explore the user's requirements more deeply. This might help to increase the chance that the technical requirements for the tools are the ones that should actually be fulfilled. The following problems were addressed: 1. How should conceptual design tool requirements be obtained, and from whom? 2. How can these requirements be interpreted and be verified? 3. How can these requirements be met? In scientific research, the latter problem should not form the starting point of a project, but a proven or tested condition. We report initial results of a research into new conceptual design tools, in which all three stages are comprised. However, the main emphasis of this paper is on the first stage, namely, the extraction of authentic requirements. The verification of requirements is also addressed.