An Agent-Based E-engineering Services Framework for Engineering Design and Optimization

This paper presents an ongoing project on the application of intelligent software agents to engineering design and optimization. In this project, an agent-based e-engineering services framework for engineering design and optimization is proposed and being developed based on several advanced technologies, such as agents, Internet/Web, workflow and database. This framework aims at providing integrated or individual engineering services over the Internet that benefits small and medium enterprises (SMEs). A software prototype is currently being implemented using intelligent agents to integrate various engineering software tools. Scalability, intelligent load balancing and distributed decision-making are among the main characteristics that are highly expected from this system. A wheel-axle-assembly (part of a bogie system) is chosen as the test part of this prototype system.