This paper outlines a concurrent engineering environment that supports interaction between members of a geographically dispersed multidisciplinary team who is engaged in engineering design activities. Some ideas of engineering design, especially conceptual design are reviewed. A deeper scientific analysis of intelligent design is discussed. A new problem solving strategy and methodologies to implement cooperative design are proposed. Finally, a conceptual model of a blackboard system for accomplishing conceptual design automation is presented. Its fundamental principles, system organization and key implementation techniques are investigated in detail.
