Abstract
The validation of the accessibility, maintainability, mounting/dismantle simulation in a cluttered environment is a key problem during the design process of a mechanical system. On the one hand research in path planning lead to automatic trajectory definition. These systems are really efficient for simple problems. On the other hand direct manipulation is possible thanks to robotic CAD systems. Another direct manipulation is possible with common virtual reality tools that allow the designer immersion in a whole mechanical environment. In such an environment the designer can handle an object in order to check its accessibility. Thanks to the use of a multi-agent architecture we greatly improve the effectiveness of virtual reality tools while coupling algorithmic approaches and direct manipulation. This original method is a solution of a multi-criteria constrained optimisation problem. Theoretical and practical aspects are presented.