Development of an Interactive Computerized Aircraft Design System

During the last decades a great number of new technologies have been developed to increase the efficiency and safety of new aircraft. Many of these technologies demand, however, a completely different design philosophy, design approach and organization of the design process.

At the same time the fast growing capacity of modern computer systems has opened up the possibility of more accurate design and analysis, interactive design, design optimization and strategic design management. In many cases this has led to a complete reconsideration and reorganization of the entire design process. In order to keep pace with these developments and to be able to make a contribution to future developments in this field the ICADS Interactive Computerized Aircraft Design System was set up. This system must enable us to make students and designers familiar with advanced design methods and the logic behind it. This paper describes the causes and reasons for the lay-out of the system as well as the design organization, the design procedures, the computer environment and some of the essential computer programs as used in the system.