Dynamic Constraint Satisfaction with Conflict Management in Design

In this paper, we focus on techniques for constraint-based design tasks with continuous variables in dynamic environments. We show how design spaces can be explored within an intelligent CAD system using a dynamic constraint satisfaction framework and a connict resolution paradigm. Navigation between diierent design spaces is controlled by assumptions the designer makes in situations of incomplete knowledge. These assumptions divide design constraints into defaults, preferences and xed constraints. Design strategies associate the constraints with the overall goals that the designer wishes to satisfy and allow for a more detailed ordering on the constraints. Reasoning within diierent belief sets which correspond to the designer's notion of assumptions is related to normal default logic.