In product design, sketches and images are strong devices for stimulating creativity. This paper presents a novel visual evolutionary computing environment to provide support for creative design. The 2D sketches and 3D images can be generated by combination of evolutionary computing technology and visualization technology in this environment. A tree-based genetic algorithm is illustrated by a reading lamp design example, which uses genetic algorithm with binary mathematical expression tree to form 2D sketches and programming using Visual Ctt6.0 and ACIS to generate 3D images. It shows that the approach is able to generate some creative solutions and demonstrates the potential of computational approach in creative design.

This paper presents a context-aware multi-agent cooperative design system framework. It analyses the related work of multi-agent cooperative design system and context-awareness computing first. Then, it presents the architecture of a multi-agent cooperative design system and the structure of a design agent in cooperative environment. Subsequently, it introduces the XML-based context modelling, capturing and processing in the environment. Finally, the design process is illustrated by a gear reducer design instance. The purpose of the paper is to bridge pervasive computing with agents through context-awareness and apply it in cooperative design.

This paper presents a novel computer-aided design system which uses a computational approach to producing 3D images for stimulating creativity of designers. It introduces the genetic algorithm first. Then a binary tree based genetic algorithm is presented. This approach is illustrated by a 3D image generative example, which uses complex function expressions as chromosomes to form a binary tree, and all genetic operations are performed on the binary tree. Corresponding complex functions are processed by MATLAB software to form 3D images of artistic flowers. This generative design is integrated with a visualization interface, which allows designers to interact and select from instances for design evolution. It shows the system is able to enhance the possibility of discovering various potential design solutions.

New architectures for next-generation of computer-aided design environments need to be distributed, evolutive, and cooperative. This paper presents a multi-agent design environment that supports cooperative and evolutionary design by cooperation of a group of agents. Multi-agent system architecture offers a promising framework with its novel approach for dynamically creating and managing agent communities in widely distributed and ever-changing design environments; while the genetic algorithm based approach provides a foundation for supporting evolutionary and innovative design abilities. The computational and information processing processes involved in evolutionary and distributed environment are discussed in this paper.

Design is a complex problem solving and knowledge refinement process. Learning is a part of this process that can improve computer based design support systems by using the knowledge representing the experience and expertise of designers. Learning from past design examples, and acquiring new knowledge during the process of design are closely related activities that must be supported by future computer supported design systems. This paper analyses the relation between design and learning activity to propose a learning model of design first. Then it presents the software architecture of a design agent with an inductive learning mechanism. Subsequently it introduces the knowledge representation and learning algorithms in a multi-agent design system. Finally, the paper examines the possible ways in which the proposed learning model and the software architecture can be placed in an industrial and engineering design context for developing application tools for design support.

This paper presents a novel evolutionary design approach in a multi-agent design environment. Multi-agent system architecture offers a promising framework for dynamically managing cooperative agents in a distributed environment while the tree structure based generic algorithm provides a foundation for supporting evolutionary and innovative design abilities. Design is a complex knowledge discovery process. Creative design is a human trait that is not easily converted into a computational tool. Rather than to implement the innovative design by computers, this environment is used to stimulate the imagination of designers and extend their thinking space. It wants to explore a feasible and useful evolutionary approach in a distributed environment that will give the designers concrete help for the creative designs. This approach is illustrated by a mobile phone design example, which used binary algebraic expression tree to form sketch shapes and a feature based product tree to produce component combination choices. Because evolution is guided by human selectors, the evolutionary algorithm is not complex. It shows that approach is able to generate some creative solutions, demonstrating the power of explorative evolution.

In this paper, we propose a multi-agent collaborative design system in which human designers and software agents interact with each other, exchange design information and keep track of state information to assist with collaborative design. The hierarchical multi-agent system architecture offers a promising framework with their novel approaches for dynamically creating and managing design tasks in widely distributed and ever-changing design environments while the knowledge based design approach provide a foundation for supporting reusable design abilities. The storage of design knowledge and the collaborative design process involved in this environment are introduced in this paper.

介紹一個計算機輔助設計環境，該環境利用進化計算及可視化技術生成二維草圖及三維圖像，以支持設計人員的創新設計。用一個藝術設計實例介紹了該環境所采用的基于樹結構的遺傳算法，實例用一般的數學表達式生成藝術品底座外形，用復合函數表達式生成藝術花卉的三維圖像。實例表明：文中方法能夠生成一些有創意的解，并展示了進化的計算方法在創新設計中的潛力。

介紹了一種可以應用于建筑概念設計的遺傳算法。該算法采用基于數學表示二叉樹結構的編碼方法，以及相應的交叉、變異操作，目標函數及人機交互相結合的適應度值確定方法，生成簡單的曲線。選定的曲線經過三維可視化處理形成實體。這些生成的三維實體與人工設計的構件一起被分類，然后統一保存到構件庫中。通過采用二進制編碼的遺傳算法，生成組合方案，組合構件庫的構件，形成比較復雜的外觀造型。以一個建筑外觀設計為例，介紹了算法的執行過程。

In this paper, we present a generative design method for supporting creative conceptual design in a multi-agent system. The hierarchical multi-agent system architecture offers a promising framework and an evolutionary computational approach provides a basis for supporting generative design in distributed environments. The evolutionary approach relies upon a tree structure rather than a known binary string in general GA (Genetic Algorithm). The system can generate simple 2D sketch shapes, which are generated by using general. Mathematical expressions and selected shapes are dealt with to form 3D components. These components are classified and saved in a SQL sever based database (component base). The complex design is implemented via combination of different components that come from the component base. The layout of components is generated by a genetic algorithm. The generative process is illustrated through an architectural design example.