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This paper describes a new unified formal modeling framework based on generic place/transition nets (PTNs) for concurrent integrated design and planning of electromechanical assemblies. First, a generic PTN model is defined as an abstract (meta)class of all types of PTNs. Then, an integrated object modeling framework is proposed for capturing and representing information and knowledge in the assembly design and planning processes based on the defined generic PTN modeling language and formalisms. The proposed integrated assembly model with the generic PTNs can uniformly represent the causal relations at the assembly level, the operation level, and the feature-based single-part level through the data abstraction of components and connectors on various levels of integrated assembly design and planning. An assembly model compatible with the STandard for the Exchange of Product model data (STEP, officially ISO 10303) is also built with the generic PTNs. To validate the proposed modeling framework, a prototype system has been developed, and a case study on gearbox assembly design and planning is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An intensive knowledge engineering system is a large-scale knowledge framework that allows modeling and processing various types, different levels and multiple functionalities of knowledge in a process. The paper develops a knowledge intensive multi-agent system for cooperative/collaborative assembly modeling and process planning in a distributed design environment. In this paper, an AI protocol based knowledge intensive methodology is first developed for distributed collaborative design in facilitating concurrent integration and cooperation/collaboration of intelligent design agents. Then, unified class of knowledge intensive Petri nets is defined using an O-O knowledge-based Petri net approach and used an AI protocol for knowledge objects cooperation formalisms. Detailed cooperative/collaborative mechanisms and algorithms for handling integration and negotiation problems among intelligent agents are provided based on the knowledge objects cooperation formalisms. A research prototype system is implemented under the knowledge-intensive multi-agent framework with concurrent integration of multiple cooperative knowledge source and software tools/packages. Thus, assembly-oriented design could be carried out simultaneously and intelligently in distributed & integrated collaborative environment (DICE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]