Self-organizing agents for mechanical design

Abstract

This paper describes an automated process for designing mechanical systems based on the adaptive multi-agent system theory. At the beginning of the design process, the designer adds the elements of his problem: goal, envelope, constraints, known mechanical components ... During the solving process, mechanical components (previously "agentified") organize themselves in order to find a solution, by modifying their parameters, by creating new mechanical components fitting in with the needs, or by modifying the system topology. While this paper presents an overview of the theoretical basis of AMAS theory, it primarily focuses on the method for developing the Mechanical Synthesis Solver and the results from the first prototype. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2004.