Abstract
This paper proposes a method of deriving meta-planning knowledge from artifacts. The key idea behind this is that the object in question can be regarded to be a result of successive strategically rational decisions and actions which are subject to the Design Axioms, i. e., the principles of “good” design introduced by Suh in his Axiomatic Design Theory. The structural features of designed objects are analyzed by domain specific knowledge, and then the EBG (Explanation-Based Generalization) of this analysis yields a general and systematic explanation of “how” they function and attain their design goals by the use of their functional compositions together with the structures supporting these functions. For deeper understanding of design beyond this “how explanation”, it is necessary to explain the reason “why” these functional and structural compositions of the objects are selected from among other possible alternatives. Our method extracts such a deep explanation from artifacts analysis based on Design Axioms. The deep explanations show strategic or meta-planning knowledge for conceptual design by which the order of attaining design goals and the way of resolving interactions among design goals can be elucidated.
