CAD\CAE is commonly used in many aspects of spacecraft design and development. However, once an assembly or system is designed and manufactured, the information contained within the CAD\CAE files is no longer of use. This project investigated a CAD\CAE knowledge-base development tool. Its purpose is to enable data contained within the CAD\CAE files to be translated into a knowledge base for use throughout the life cycle of the product. In addition, the tool will contain provisions for knowledge capture to expand the knowledge base throughout the design, development, simulation, testing, and deployment phases of the product. Natural-language processing will be utilized to obtain knowledge from design, test, and operating personnel in areas for which automated translation of a CAD\CAE file to the knowledge base is not possible.During Phase I, research was performed to define a software tool which would utilize CAD\CAE files to develop a knowledge base for use the life cycle of the product. The results of Phase I included a design specification for a CAD\CAE knowledge-base development tool which incorporates model building and design knowledge capture provisions.Potential Commercial Application:Commercial applications of the CAD\CAE knowledge base development tool are many since such a product would provide a means for developing knowledge-based systems for product support, diagnoses, repair, simulation and other applications for any CAD\CAE-designed product.STATUS: Project Proceded to Phase II
