Information and knowledge sharing for distributed design agents

Today, engineering organisations place much emphasis on ensuring that the design phase of a project is carried out as thoroughly as possible. Emerging computing technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) are increasingly being adopted to aid in the expertise needed for successful design. Similarly, emerging standards for Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), such as ISO 10303 (STEP), are enabling better communication in engineering through the standardisation of information. By combining technologies such as these it is possible to develop computerised systems which allow both information and knowledge to be shared more efficiently. This paper discusses how agents that are interested in particular aspects of the design process can be integrated to facilitate information and knowledge sharing. This is achieved using a central product model of the STEP standard and knowledge-based ontologies to promote knowledge and information exchange. In particular, we will describe these in the context of existing design agents and a newly integrated safety agent. An agent version control mechanism is also described.