An object-oriented knowledge-based inspection planner

The authors present the development of an object-oriented inspection planner (OOIP) for integration of computer-aided design (CAD) and coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) using knowledge-based system techniques. The issues involved in CAD-directed inspection process planning are examined; the task of inspection process planning is decomposed into several subtasks. An inspection planning system is therefore designed as a multimodule knowledge-based system; each of these modules has its own knowledge base and the planning agenda for the task planning. The module interfacing was realized by directly passing messages to the objects defined in the system. An example is included to explain the planning knowledge and strategy