A top-down design process oriented adaptive conceptual layout design environment based on semantic norm model

Product design is a complicated and creative process. Even for the up-to-date commercial 3D CAD tools, it is very difficult to achieve automation of the entire design process. In the article, a semantic norm model (SNM) is presented to support the top-down process in conceptual design, which is an important phase in product design and has a decisive influence on the cost of the product design. The SNM system can define virtual components in early design stage with semantics and instantiate those components in detailed design, and it bridges the gaps between conceptual design and detailed design. The SNM system is also managed by 3D constraints system to support the variational design of the product. A combined algebraic together with numerical method was used to solve SNM constraints incrementally. Based on the SNM system, an adaptive conceptual design environment is developed and the top-down oriented product design process is demonstrated.