The broad objective of HPCD is to build on advances in high performance computing, artificial intelligence, modeling/simulation technology, and design automation software, and to develop a new generation of engineering automation technology that can bring about dramatic gains in industrial productivity. The focus of the project is on complex engineering design problems. Typically, these problems are computationally intensive, they are hard to decompose, and they have many design goals and constraints (some of which may be conflicting). Two examples of design problems addressed in HPCD are the conceptual design of aerospace vehicles and the design of innovative surface ships. In both cases, researchers would need clear knowledge about the domain (such as how to model the aerodynamic performance of an airframe or the hydrodynamic performance of a ship hull), about the set of possible solutions (which would be a language for describing possible design objects and their modifications), and about the space of design specifications or goals and constraints (meaning the set of conditions on speed, stability, structural soundness, ...) that a design object must satisfy. This type of knowledge must be provided to a computer system, together with strategies for using it effectively in the search for solutions to a design problem, in order to build effective capabilities for automated design.
The project thrusts are to develop methodologies and software tools that would enable substantial speedup in the time it takes to go from an initial design concept to a completed design, while maintaining (or improving) the quality of the resulting design solution; to explore I increased automation processes for solving com- plex engineering design problems (basically to reduce the level of human effort needed for such work; to develop prototype software systems and experience in specific 'realistic' domains/tasks; and to shorten the distance between science and engineering with the help of high performance computing.
This past July marked the project's 4th annual workshop and was a very successful event. The project personnel set major goals for the workshop, which included reviewing the current status and directions of HPC research, exchanging information, and strengthening coordination and collaborations in the project. Major achievements were highlighted and problems which were encountered were discussed. The workshop brought together all of the members of the HPCD community. In addition, the workshop enabled project personnel to identify developments that are outgrowths of the HPCD project. The Center for Computation Design (CCD) is one of those developments which grew from HPCD project seeds. It is headed by Saul Amarel and Doyle Knight and was established in 1996 as one of the Rutgers strategic initiatives in Information Sciences. The CCD was begun to foster interdisciplinary research in computational design and rapid virtual and physical prototyping, and the application of this technology by industry. Early research directions in CCD were discussed at the workshop.
The project entered its fifth year in January 1998. While direct DARPA funding for the project terminated in December 1997, work in selected areas of the project is continuing, including documentation of some of the research performed. Also, there is evidence that the seeds which have been planted over the years of HPCD research are likely to blossom as successful new projects in the future.