Abstract
Fluid power system design is a skilful and complex task requiring significant practical experience and heuristic knowledge gained over many years. Industries specifying and/or designing fluid power systems in their products are at risk should they lose key personnel with this knowledge. This problem is compounded by a lack of formal training at the graduate level, creating a shortfall in qualified fluid power designers.
Design support tools that assist and guide designers in their work, as part of a Concurrent Engineering approach, should be capable of providing both good practice guidance and a framework into which product specific information can be stored for later reuse. This paper discusses the early development of a fluid power system design tool that seeks to offer this support using a methodology developed in hypermedia.
System design drawings for the PV power system at Natural Bridges National Monument
