針對三維模型進行自動搜尋為新產品開發時減少重複設計與增加既有零件使用率的關鍵技術，亦是協同設計環境中資源整合的有效方法。以往的搜尋機制主要是利用三維零件的幾何屬性，轉化成形狀特徵圖(Shape Signature)來進行相互比對。其結果受限於形狀特徵圖的產生方式，因此各種單一比對方法皆有其無法辦識的形狀。有鑑於此，本論文提出一個全新的相似度比對計算架構，結合不同形狀特徵，提供整合性的三維產品模型自動搜尋機制、更為精確的比對結果與較有效率的計算過程。
此計算架構主要包含三個階段的計算步驟，首先以與三維零件功能性連結較為密切的特徵(Feature)比對為主，輔以拓璞(Topology)比對以克服特徵交錯的限制；最後再依據形狀分佈圖(Shape Distribution)決定最終的相似度。本論文提出一創新性啟發式演算法，利用Cliques進行圖形比對，藉此將計算複雜度從NP-Complete降為在多項式時間內便可完成。此外並利用類神經網路技術決定演算法中的權重值以確實反應使用者在搜尋上的偏好，進而提高本研究的實用性。
本論文並將上述比對計算架構延伸至組立件產品，同時考慮組立特徵與單一零件的相似性，以及組合結構上的差異，幫助設計者從既有的產品中找尋最接近者加以修改，或作為選擇適當供應商的評估工具。最後提出一整合性資訊系統架構，將演算法實作於由3D CAD、PDM與線上零件庫所組成之協同設計環境以驗證本研究之可行性與價值。未來研究方向可將此相似性計算架構與產品之設計、製造流程或生產排程進行結合，根據搜尋而得之相似性產品流程作為基礎進行新產品的流程分析設計。相關研究將不僅侷限於設計功能性比對，而可以推廣至產品生命週期中各項活動之相似性應用。

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