抄録
Human recognizes characteristics of the shape using not only microscopic shape-information but macroscopic shape-information also. However, in the conventional design support system, the information that the designer controls is only microscopic shape-information (such as the dimension). Therefore, it is necessary that macroscopic shape-information that can express the whole characteristics appears by the combination of elements of the shape as a design guideline. We defined curvature entropy as a macroscopic shape-information based on information entropy. Curvature entropy can express characteristics of "complexity" in a simple curve profile. A shape-generation method using curvature entropy and genetic algorithm is described. Application of this method to the design of an automobile side view showed that curvature entropy can express characteristics of "complexity" in a curve profile at the product level. A design-support system using curvature entropy is thus feasible.
