An interface agent that actively supports CAE beginner users in performing analyses

Roles of the computer aided engineering (CAE) software are getting mon significant in manufacturing industry because detailed simulation in the early stage of design can reduce the time and cost for development. An easier user interface and a capability of offering knowledge about the FE analysis an demanded as the main users shift from analysts to designers. This article proposes an interface agent for a CAE system. It helps beginners of the CAE software perform FE analysis quickly and correctly without support from human specialists. Major functions of the proposed agent include: (I) help users create ideas of FE analysis by showing operation flow in advance in words and images; (2) plan a sequence of operations from users analysis goal and show it to users stepwise; and (3) record users troubleshooting experiences and show them to the same user and other users as hints. A prototype was implemented on a PC based CAE system. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.