WebBlow: a Web/agent-based multidisciplinary design optimization environment

This paper presents some results of our recent work on the development of a distributed multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) environment (called WebBlow) using a number of enabling technologies including software agents, Internet/Web, and XML. The objective is to provide a powerful solution for project managers and designers working on multiple design projects to share product information and knowledge, and to ensure the system security and mitigate the difficulties with firewalls. Software agents encapsulate the functionalities of the system, such as process simulation, performance simulation, and design optimization. XML is used for data management at the server side as well as for message exchanges among software agents. A prototype environment is presented for blow molded automotive parts design.