Human intent models in integrated product modeling

An advanced product model-based style of engineering design together with Internet-based globalized project work relies on the advanced communication of model data. Model entities and their parameters represent the decisions of engineers. Present-day models of mechanical systems do not contain data about the background of human decisions. This situation motivated the authors in their investigations on the exchange of design intent information between engineers. Their concept was that of extending product models to be capable of describing design intent information. Several human-computer and human-human communication issues were considered. The complex communication problem has been divided into four sub-problems, namely communication of human intent source with the computer system, representation of human intent, exchange of intent data between modeling procedures, and communication of the represented intent with humans. Firstly, the main objectives of the research, earlier results and an approach to describe design intent in product models are outlined. Following this, the utilization of human-computer procedures in the modeling of design intent is characterized. Then the main structure of a model description of design intent is detailed. Finally, design intent description in a product modeling environment is discussed and illustrated by examples