An expert system approach for designing air-conditioning systems for cars and trucks is presented. A brief introduction to the automotive application of the vapor-compression refrigeration cycle is provided as general background. The method presented uses an integrated approach combining the power of conventional analysis programs, databases and model-based expert system technology. Some sample rules from the knowledge base have been included in the paper to illustrate the application of the domain knowledge and its interaction with algorithmic programs. The system architecture is very open and modular, and it lends itself to easy modifications and future expansions. Possibilities for system enhancements are also outlined in the paper. The approach presented in this paper provides substantial benefits to the automotive air-conditioning design engineer particularly in the early stages of new vehicle platform planning and development. A pilot system has been successfully tested at General Motors for preliminary design of automotive air-conditioning systems.
