Subproject A5

Therefore subproject A5 pursues two main goals. Firstly, strategies for the solution of data-induced conflicts are developed. Conflicts deriving from the integration of time-dependent information or contradictory sources can be solved by the proposition of semantic solution strategies and their visualization. Secondly, inductive reasoning-mechanisms are explored in order to control uncertainty in ontology-based models, thus being able to support the design engineer with a coherent interpretation of time dependent information.

The aim of the subproject is the representation and visualization of uncertainty information in CAD systems. The current research focus is on the fusion of information from various, distributed sources.

In the third funding period, the first goal is the development of ontology-based solution strategies for data-induced conflicts resulting from the integration of time-varying information or contradictory sources. The ontology-based information model can be used to visualize the solution alternatives.

Secondly, inductive reasoning-mechanisms are explored in order to control uncertainty in ontology-based models, thus being able to support the design engineer with a coherent interpretation of time dependent information. It is to be researched how new knowledge can contribute to the resolution of data-induced conflicts. The visualization is intended to provide the product designer with the cause-effect relationships of time-changing information.

The results of the first and second funding period form the basis for the researches of the third funding period. An ontology-based information model was developed in the first funding period. It enables the representation and visualization of uncertainty information of the geometry of parts in the CAD model. The concept uCloud was developed for the static visualization of time-independent uncertainty.

In the second funding period, the information model was expanded so that information on time-dependent geometric uncertainty from the product lifecycle can be returned to the parametric product model. In addition, the model was adapted for assemblies. For the visualization the u Cloud concept was enhanced to meet the requirements of the second funding period – time dependency, scaling of uncertainty and assemblies.