Lazy Evaluation of Geometric Definitions in CAD Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computer-aided design and engineering systems become burdened and less responsive as designs for vehicles and systems become more complex, due to the need to recompute entire geometric models for each change, leading to increased user wait times and decreased system efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing lazy evaluation methods within procedural programming environments to delay the evaluation of geometric functions until a triggering event occurs, allowing only impacted elements to be recomputed, thereby reducing unnecessary processing and improving system responsiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If entire geometric models are recomputed for each change, then geometric model accuracy is maintained, but system responsiveness deteriorates and user wait times increase
Solution Approach 1:
The geometric model is divided into independent components or elements. When a change occurs, only the affected segment is recomputed rather than the entire model. The system identifies impacted elements through dependency tracking and recomputes only those specific components, maintaining accuracy where needed while avoiding unnecessary computations throughout the rest of the model.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis by building and maintaining a dependency graph that maps relationships between geometric elements and their defining parameters. This preliminary structure enables the system to quickly identify which elements need recomputation when changes occur, without performing full model recomputation. The dependency graph is constructed in advance and updated as part of the normal operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If entire geometric models are recomputed for each change, then geometric model accuracy is maintained, but computing system burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computing task is segmented into independent units corresponding to individual geometric elements or components. The system identifies which segments are affected by changes and processes only those rather than the entire model. This segmentation reduces the computing burden by limiting the scope of recomputation to minimal necessary portions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing complete model recomputation (excessive action), the system performs only the partial recomputation of affected elements. The dependency graph enables precise identification of the minimal set of elements that need updating, avoiding unnecessary computational operations while ensuring accuracy is maintained where required.
3Productivity
If lazy evaluation is implemented, then system responsiveness improves and unnecessary processing is reduced, but evaluation timing control becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms through the dependency graph that continuously monitors relationships between geometric elements and their defining parameters. When changes are detected in input parameters or element definitions, the feedback system automatically triggers appropriate recomputations based on the dependency relationships, enabling responsive updates without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaluation system is designed to be self-managing through automatic dependency tracking and trigger-based evaluation. The system monitors its own state and automatically determines when recomputation is needed based on changes in defining parameters or element relationships. This self-service approach reduces the need for external control mechanisms while maintaining responsive evaluation timing.
Data Source
AI summary
This description provides tools for lazy evaluation of geometric definitions of objects within procedural programming environments. Computer-based methods provided by these tools may parse input program code that includes statements that are syntactically consistent with a procedural programming language. These statements may also include defined functions that are not syntactically consistent with the procedural programming language. The defined functions may be associated with a given function that is defined according to the procedural programming language. The given function may relate to a geometric design of an object. The methods may identify inputs and outputs to this given function, and may build a dependency graph that relates this given function to other functions, based on the inputs and/or outputs of the given function. The methods may delay evaluating the given function until a triggering event occurs, at which time the methods may evaluate the given function to produce the output.