This is a bit beyond the scope of Fusion 360 but it would be a spatially concurrent hardware description language that can describe complex assemblies.
Although the application is diferent, it could be modeled after Verilog where modules describe collections of function. In an initial / alpha version, it would just describe positioning, exclusion, and relative movement.
Assemblies would be described with formal specification that could be automatically combined with design rules and translated into physical hardware. Optimized part and assembly generation could then be implemented to allow for easy and automatic generation of metal stamping and injection molding dies, laser sintered or melted parts, and hand or automated assembly.
Synthesis could take into account clearnace for motion of components durring assembly and in the final assembly, noise and stiffness constraints for positioning, and so on.
Individual parts can be described in a 3D CAD system where the part, mount points, and clearances are specified as separate physical layers, and a 3D design tool (Fusion 360) can specify boundaries.
A typical workflow might look something like the following:
[product designer in Fusion 360] lays out the outer geometry of the product specifying soft feet, a metalic face, and a hard plastic surface.
[product engineer; probably in Fusion 360] selects stamped aluminum for the face, santoprene for the feet and glass filled nylon for the surface. Specifies that a NEMA 17 stepper be centrally located with the ability to move a component within a specified range. Fixes the mount points for the motor, specifies the location of a control board, battery, capacitive touch panel, etc. Specifies M3 bolt fasteners and a specific variety of plastic reversable rivets.
[design automation system] applies design rules for stampped aluminum to synthesize the stampped face. Uses rigidity and other constraints to determine the optimal material for the stamped face, thickness and geometric details of the injection molded santoprene and glass filled nylon parts, and the positioning and number of fasteners, and wiring design and routing.
[automated documentation system] generates technical drawings, tolerances, 3D parts, and assembly instructions to send to metal stamper, injection molder, integration, and testing suppliers.
[product designer in 360] makes significant changes to external geometry
[design automation systems] automatically generate updated complete assembly design and manufacturing instructions without requiring the intervention of other engineers beyond design validation.
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Such a system could in principle be used to synthesize an optimal design for something as complex as a Boeing 777, and regulations (such as safety, ADA compliance, recyclability, etc) could be imposed as constraints. Once a complex design is built and certified, improvements in availiable materials and manufacturing techniques could be applied to generate completely new and dramatically improved parts and assembly processes.
