From ontologies of designing to cognitive semiotics

Some fundamentals of lifecycle concept for Complex Technical Systems are considered. The Complex Technical Systems lifecycle is a meta-system for computer-aided design, computer-integrated manufacturing and maintenance, enabling the mapping of Complex Technical Systems state changes during the period of its existence. Main lifecycle trends are both extension and detailing that leads to non-traditional design strategies and emergence of new design phases at the crossroad of research and development, design and tests. Within the framework of ontological approach design phases, levels, aspects and tasks are viewed. Here the phase of preliminary design (also called «research design») seen as a sort of «analytical synthesis» is of primary concern. An important role of various Non-Factors (uncertainty, imprecision, contradiction, fuzziness) in preliminary design is shown. A three-dimensional space for Non-Factors modeling is introduced and their classifications are suggested. On early stages of design a model-based approach is crucial: it deals with both models and parameters. Some original techniques and tools of representing design knowledge in a model-parametric space are developed. Besides, a multi-dimensional semantic-pragmatic space of design methods and languages based on bipolar scales is outlined. Two keynote principles for design languages - compatibility principle and complementarity principle - are formulated on the basis of semantic scale for languages. On the one hand, the support of designer’s creative thinking requires the use of both illustrative and cognitive graphics. On the other hand, two variants of General Design Theory are analyzed. By General Design Theory a formal design theory is meant that tends to describe the design concepts in terms of sets, topological spaces and calculi, in particular, higher-order predicate calculus. The analysis of formal systems shortcomings from the viewpoint of making real design decisions is performed. As a result, the need in bringing semiotic models into design science is justified. In the final part of the paper, basic definitions of semiotics together with sign classifications are given. The peculiarities of the transition from semiotic modeling to Applied Semiotics and Cognitive Semiotics are discussed. Cognitive Semiotics faces the problems of both knowledge acquisition from sign systems and the synthesis of sign-based structures in the context of knowledge engineering. Professor Yury R. Valkman was one of the pioneers in Cognitive Semiotics.