Formal Engineering Design Synthesis

In the early 1960s systematic techniques were introduced to guide engineers in producing high-quality designs. By the mid-1980s, these methods evolved from their informal guideline-like origins to more formal computable methods. Recently, highly automated design synthesis techniques have emerged. This timely work reviews the state of the art in formal design synthesis methods. It also provides an in-depth exploration of several representative projects in formal design synthesis and examines future directions in computational design synthesis research. The chapters are written by internationally renowned experts in engineering and architectural design.

The creation of a new design is often thought of as a fundamentally human, creative act. However, emerging research has demonstrated that aspects of design can be formalized. By the mid-1980s earlier informal methods evolved into more formal (computable) methods. More recently, highly automated design synthesis techniques have emerged. This timely book, with chapters by internationally renowned experts, reviews the state of the art in formal design synthesis methods. It also provides an in-depth exploration of several projects in formal design synthesis and examines future directions in computational design synthesis research.