A knowledge-based dwell mechanism design program has been developed on the premise that mechanism design can be considered as an example of general mechanical design. The program, called DWELL-ASSIST, was built using a knowledge based system shell, MIDAS, developed to embody a new model of conceptual and preliminary design. Based on required dwell and entire-motion characteristics, plus any designer preferences, DWELL-ASSIST proposes mechanism types and synthesis methods, in the context of prespecified “problem statements,” which the program judges to be compatible with the problem requirements. DWELL-ASSIST can choose from among cam, geared, and linkage mechanisms, and among path curvature, precision-point, optimization, and other specialized synthesis methods in its search for solutions. As a final step, DWELL-ASSIST has the capability of developing these chosen solutions and evaluating them based on problem requirements.
