Vague Discrete Interval Modeling for Product Conceptualization in Collaborative Virtual Design Environments

Computer support of conceptual design has become the current interest of many researchers and developers. The promotion research reported in this thesis dealt with the issue of supporting shape conceptualization related to the development of consumer products. It has been recognized that there is a need to cope with the incompleteness, uncertainty, multiplicity and advancement of shape concepts. To this end, this thesis proposes vague discrete interval modeling (VDIM) for computer aided shape conceptualization. The features of VDIM are (a) representation a cluster of shapes in one single model, (b) rule-based instantiation of shapes, and (c) physically based modeling of the behavior. Particle concept was used to methodologically integrate these aspects of modeling, and to develop pilot software. This thesis gives an introduction to the related problems and reviews the state of the art. It discusses the functionality, mathematical fundamentals, information processing and architecture of the pilot system. It also presents applications of VDIM for industrial design cases.