CASE-BASED PROCESS PLANNING USING AN OBJECT-ORIENTED MODEL REPRESENTATION

This research focuses on the development of a process-planning system. This system utilizes case-based techniques for process selection and sequencing to combine the advantages of the variant and generative app roaches to process planning. The case-based process planner utilizes a n object-oriented model representation to operate on general three-dim ensional prismatic parts, which are, represented by a collection of fe atures (e.g. slots, pockets, holes, etc.). Each feature subplan is dev eloped by the case-based planner. Then the feature subplans are combin ed into the global process plan for the part via a hierarchical plan-m erging mechanism. Abstracted feature subplans correspond to cases, whi ch are used in subsequent planning operations to solve new problems. T he abstracting and storing of feature subplans as cases is the primary mechanism by which the planner learns from its previous experiences t o become more effective and efficient. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.