Process and apparatus for designing a system made of components

Abstract

A digitally programmed computer takes as input a schematic of a mechanical system and specification of the overall system including utility and cost functions and provides as output catalog numbers from a pre-defined set for the optimal selection of working components implementing the design. The preferred embodiment provides the user with a high level symbolic language in which to interact with the programmed computer. The process of compilation or transformation from a high level language to a low level description, is based on a formalization of quantitative inferences about hierarchically organized sets of mechanical components and operating conditions. This method allows design compilation without the exhaustive enumeration of alternatives. This method of compilation as demonstrated in the preferred embodiment, is not limited to mechanical systems, but is applicable to any physical system composed of working components able to be defined by connected variables that can be clearly defined within various operating points and where the goal is to design an overall system achieving some pre-defined system requirements.