Behavioral synthesis in CADET, a case-based design tool

The authors present an approach to the conceptual design of hydromechanical systems using a case base of previous designs. The authors outline an approach to transforming the given specifications in a behavior-preserving manner, so as to enable retrieval, and subsequent synthesis of relevant component cases and pieces of cases. The investigation of the behavior preserving transformational strategies is conducted within a framework of a case based reasoning methodology for mechanical design and has been implemented in the CADET (case design tool) system. The process consists of applying behavior-preserving transformations, based on qualitative calculus, to an abstract description of the desired behavior of the device until a description is found that closely corresponds to some collection of relevant cases