Abstract: A new approach of conceptual design for a hybird mechanical system is proposed by means of characteristic state space, and a new mechanical system can be automatically generated by combining basic mechanical units, in particularly, to generate alternate mechanism concepts. The characteristic state space is estabilshed by transversing the design space elements to the state space, and the properties as well as the space relationship of the transferred elements are analyzed. Additionally, the operation rule and the metric form are studied elaborately. The characteristic state space theory and the caculation laws between the random dual point in the space are established. However, with the manipulation of the dual vectors, the mathematic model is presented and the groundwork is laid for the conceptual design in the characteristic state space. An example is given to show the application of the approach.

Key words: Characteristic state equation, Conceptual design, Dual vector, Hybrid combined mechanism