Modeling Imprecision in Product Design

Manuscript prepared for submission to the 1994 IEEE International Conference on Fuzzy Systems.

Erik K. Antonsson
Engineering Design Research Laboratory
Division of Engineering and Applied Science
California Institute of Technology

Kevin N. Otto
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A method for representing and manipulating imprecise and vague information in engineering design is described. Designers and customers preferences are captured with Fuzzy sets. Formal methods for including noise, trade-off strategies and design iteration are included.