Reasoning about machining operations using feature-based models.

The success of future automated planning systems greatly depend on further advances in two areas: (a) enhanced product modeling systems capable of answering questions posed during the planning phase; and (b) techniques for representing and manipulating planning knowledge. The work reported in this paper, investigates the use of a feature-based approach for modeling engineering parts to support the product data requirements of an intelligent planning system, employing the frame-based and rule-based knowledge representation techniques from artificial intelligence research. The approach has been applied to the domain of rotational parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]