A constraint-net approach to the resolution of conflicts in a product with multi-technology requirements

Whilst many procedures exist to support the systematic development of a product, it is often difficult to create an environment in which the early stages of the design are resolved. This can particularly happen when the product design is based upon a wide range of technologies and the expert members of the design team are drawn from many disciplines. The constraint resolution approach allows the requirements to be formed into rules and their combined truth established. Within such an environment an investigation has been undertaken to determine the possibility of establishing clusters of rules relating to individual technical aspects of the design requirements, which are then formed into networks that can be solved interactively within the constraint modelling environment. This paper draws upon the experience of designing a disposable cell counting device for medical applications and illustrates its adaptation to other applications through the use of the derived constraint-net. Keyword: Constraint nets, rule clusters, multidisciplinary design collaboration, constraints