Agent-Supported Web-Based Cooperative Design

The Internet and Web-based technologies are playing an increasingly important role in cooperative product development systems. However, most Web-based applications were developed using the client/server architecture for information sharing, rather than for real time cooperation. Indeed, the integration of agent and Web-based technologies to develop cooperative design systems will provide greater flexibility for legacy systems integration, a better environment for real time cooperation, and more secure environment for information sharing and communication. This chapter reviews the state-of-the- art of applications of the Web and Agent technologies to cooperative product design, presents some results of an on-going research project on developing an agent-supported Web-based framework for multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO). The primary objective of the proposed approach is to develop an architectural framework for integrating intelligent agents and the Internet/Web-based technologies. The principle is to leverage the right technology for the appropriate purpose. A prototype environment is presented for blow molded automotive parts design (simulation and optimization).