Design knowledge representation in Prolog/Rex

BEST (Blackboard-based Expert Systems Toolkit) provides an abstract modelli ng capability, so expert conceptualizations of the design and manufacturing process can be captured, and the corresponding design tool can be implemen ted. Modelling the metastructure of the design process from the expert's po int of view is essential in order for non-expert designers and manufacturer s to effectively use the BEST-based design tools. As the design progresses, the abstract representation of the design space or hierarchy expands to mo re and more concrete objects, to be manipulated by the succeeding design pr ocess. Various aspects of the design process; such as the structural organi zation of the product and a design library made up of elementary objects, m anufacturing technologies, design methodologies, available tools and inspec tion scenarios, are modelled using different knowledge sources, which can b e programmed using different programming paradigms. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd. All rights reserved.