The possibilities and problems of knowledge-based systems for design

Although knowledge-based systems can be shown to be of assistance to designers in a number of areas like diagnosis of faults, testing for conformity to regulations, selection of elements and components, and so on, there are problems in their more general design application. Some of the difficulties that arise are examined together with possibilities for their resolution. Parts of the discussion centre around the problems of maintaining semantic integrity in a developing design. A possible design system based on the concept of the design knowledge manipulation environment is introduced.