Representing Knowledge for Data-Driven Design

Abstract

Data-driven models have proven to be a transformative alternative to rule-based methods of the past. A data-driven transformation of design is necessary to guide engineers through complexity to develop next-generation products and production systems. Data is abundant from digitally documented early-stage design through final production processes, but this data is often unstructured, informal, and can be qualitative or textual in nature. For data-driven design, data must be computationally interpretable for past documented knowledge to guide future engineering decision-making. This thesis research leverages deep neural network-based language modeling to represent design data; specifically, textually described knowledge. Quantitative representation models make possible a wide range of applied AI methods for performing tasks such as evaluating functional interdependencies and extracting functional information from past design documentation. By learning from past engineering failures and achievements, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence can be used to assist human designers’ decision-making for meeting the needs of society and the environment through data-driven design.