Cadlin
Overview
CADLIN (Computer-Aided Design and Logic Inference Network) was an expert system developed in the 1980s as part of European AI research efforts. It focused on applying rule-based logic to complex design and analysis tasks in engineering and scientific domains.
"CADLIN demonstrated how expert systems could automate design validation and optimization processes in the pre-deep-learning era." - History of AI Projects
Development History
1985
European research consortium launches CADLIN as a knowledge-based system for engineering design automation
1987
Demonstratess successful application in structural engineering calculations and safety compliance
1989
Integrates fuzzy logic extensions for handling imprecise engineering parameters
Technical Implementation
Knowledge Base
Contained over 15,000 domain-specific rules for engineering constraints and validation logic
Inference Engine
Used forward-chaining reasoning to derive design optimizations and safety guarantees
User Interface
Provided visual CAD integration for interactive design validation and parameter adjustment
Legacy
CADLIN marked an important transition from theoretical expert systems to practical applications in technical domains. Though limited by 190s-era computing power, it influenced later AI-driven engineering tools and demonstrated:
- Integration of symbolic AI with engineering workflows
- Early hybrid systems combining logic programming with design heuristics
- Importance of domain-specific knowledge acquisition