Approach for generating and exploring a design space

1. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to generate design options for comparison by:

generating a spectrum of design options, wherein each design option included in the spectrum of design options is associated with a first attribute;

generating a design comparison graph that includes a first graph axis corresponding to possible values for the first attribute;

generating a multi-attribute controller that includes a set of axes corresponding to a set of attributes associated with the spectrum of design options;

determining, based on an input received via the multi-attribute controller, a first attribute value on a first axis in the set of axes, wherein the first attribute value is associated with a first design option included in the spectrum of design options;

determining, based on the first attribute value, a first position along the first graph axis; and

displaying, at the first position, a first indicator for the first design option, wherein at least a second indicator associated with a second design option included in the spectrum of design options is displayed at a second position along the first graph axis.

2. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the step of generating the spectrum of design options comprises:

determining at least one design criterion associated with a design problem; and

generating at least one design option that satisfies the at least one design criterion.

3. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 2 , wherein the at least one design criterion comprises at least one: of a design objective, a design constraint, a geometrical constraint, or a boundary condition.

4. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the design comparison graph further includes a second graph axis corresponding to possible values for a second attribute with which the spectrum of design options is associated, and further comprising:

determining, based on the input received via the multi-attribute controller, a second attribute value on a second axes in the set of axes, wherein the second attribute value is associated with the first design option,

determining, based on the second attribute value, a third position along the second graph axis; and

displaying, at the third position, the first indicator.

5. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , further comprising:

configuring the design comparison graph so that the first graph axis also corresponds to a second attribute with which the spectrum of design options is associated;

determining, based on the input received via the multi-attribute controller, a second attribute value on a second axes in the set of axes, wherein the second attribute value is associated with the first design option,

determining, based on the second attribute value, a third position along the first graph axis; and

displaying, at the third position, the first indicator.

6. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating a first design option vector that represents the first design option, wherein the first design option vector indicates the first attribute value on the first axis; and

displaying the first design option vector on the multi-attribute controller.

7. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 6 , further comprising:

generating, based on both the first design option vector and at least one other design option vector, a design option hyper-vector; and

displaying the design option hyper-vector on the multi-attribute controller.

8. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 6 , further comprising:

determining that a first attribute range is applied to the first axis;

determining that the first attribute value is not included within the first attribute range;

removing the first design option from the design comparison graph; and

removing the first design option vector from the multi-attribute controller.

9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the first design option has been selected; and

displaying a first detailed view associated with the first design option in a first window separate from the first indicator, the detailed view including:

a first image of geometry associated with the first design option; and

a first set of design properties associated with the first design option.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , further comprising:

identifying, based on analyzing the first design option, the second design option; and

displaying a second detailed view associated with the second design option in a second window separate from the second indicator, the second detailed view including

a second image of geometry associated with the second design option; and

a second set of design properties associated with the second design option.

11. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the second design option is identified via a profile that indicates statistical preferences of an end-user.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , further comprising:

determining that the second design option has been selected; and

displaying, in conjunction with displaying the first detailed view associated with the first design option, a second detailed view associated with the second design option in a second window separate from the second indicator.

13. A computer-implemented method for generating design options for comparison, the method comprising:

generating a spectrum of design options, wherein each design option included in the spectrum of design options is associated with a first attribute;

generating a design comparison graph that includes a first graph axis corresponding to possible values for the first attribute;

generating a multi-attribute controller that includes a set of axes corresponding to a set of attributes associated with the spectrum of design options;

determining, based on an input received via the multi-attribute controller, a first attribute value on a first axis in the set of axes, wherein the first attribute value is associated with a first design option included in the spectrum of design options;

determining, based on the first attribute value, a first position along the first graph axis; and

displaying, at the first position, a first indicator for the first design option, wherein at least a second indicator associated with a second design option included in the spectrum of design options is displayed at a second position along the first graph axis.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the step of generating the spectrum of design options comprises:

determining at least one design criterion associated with a design problem; and

generating at least one design option that satisfies the at least one design criterion.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one design criterion comprises at least one of: a design objective, a design constraint, a geometrical constraint, or a boundary condition.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the design comparison graph further includes a second graph axis corresponding to possible values for a second attribute with which the spectrum of design options is associated, and further comprising:

determining, based on the input received via the multi-attribute controller, a second attribute value on a second axes in the set of axes, wherein the second attribute value is associated with the first design option,

determining, based on the second attribute value, a third position along the second graph axis; and

displaying, at the third position, the first indicator.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , further comprising:

configuring the design comparison graph so that the first graph axis also corresponds to a second attribute with which the spectrum of design options is associated;

determining, based on the input received via the multi-attribute controller, a second attribute value on a second axes in the set of axes, wherein the second attribute value is associated with the first design option,

determining, based on the second attribute value, a third position along the first graph axis; and

displaying, at the third position, the first indicator.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , further comprising:

generating a first design option vector that represents the first design option, wherein the first design option vector indicates the first attribute value on the first axis; and

displaying the first design option vector on the multi-attribute controller.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 , further comprising:

generating, based on both the first design option vector and at least one other design option vector, a design option hyper-vector; and

displaying the design option hyper-vector on the multi-attribute controller.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 , further comprising:

determining that a first attribute range is applied to the first axis;

determining that the first attribute value is not included within the first attribute range;

removing the first design option from the design comparison graph; and

removing the first design option vector from the multi-attribute controller.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining that the first design option has been selected; and

displaying a first detailed view associated with the first design option in a first window separate from the first indicator, the detailed view including:

a first image of geometry associated with the first design option; and

a first set of design properties associated with the first design option.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21 , further comprising:

identifying, based on analyzing the first design option, the second design option; and

displaying a second detailed view associated with the second design option in a second window separate from the second indicator, the second detailed view including

a second image of geometry associated with the second design option; and

a second set of design properties associated with the second design option.

23. A system for generating design options for comparison, comprising:

a memory storing a design application; and

a processor that executes the design application to:

generate a spectrum of design options, wherein each design option included in the spectrum of design options is associated with a first attribute,

generate a design comparison graph that includes a first graph axis corresponding to possible values for the first attribute,

generate a multi-attribute controller that includes a set of axes corresponding to a set of attributes associated with the spectrum of design options;

determine, based on an input received via the multi-attribute controller, a first attribute value one a first axis in the set of axes, wherein the first attribute value is associated with a first design option included in the spectrum of design options,

determine, based on the first attribute value, a first position along the first axis, and

display, at the first position, a first indicator for the first design option, wherein at least a second indicator associated with a second design option included in the spectrum of design options is displayed at a second position along the first graph axis.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the design comparison graph further includes a second graph axis corresponding to possible values for a second attribute with which the spectrum of design options is associated, and wherein the processor further executes the design application to:

determine, based on the input received via the multi-attribute controller, a second attribute value on a second axes in the set of axes, wherein the second attribute value is associated with the first design option,

determine, based on the second attribute value, a third position along the second graph axis; and

display, at the third position, the first indicator.