bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Reduction Method on Constant Constraints With Natural Coordinates
Authors: Zhang Kewei , Zhang Yunqing , Chen Liping
Published: March 2011

With the strategy “Automatically Reduce Natural-Coordinate DAEs Assembled Automatically” in mind, the authors have developed a new reduction method on natural-coordinate constant constraint (NCCC). A NCCC constrains a state variable to a constant, leading to a simplest constraint equation which often appears in the joints which connect elements defined with natural coordinates to the ground. The new reduction method can be performed once for every NCCC, with the result that one column and one row are removed from the system mass matrix. The new reduction operation can be used independently and repeatedly, a characteristic suitable for computer implementation. For the purposes of illustration, after a double-wishbone suspension is modeled with 48 natural coordinates and 12 NCCCs, its DAE is reduced by the new reduction method, with 36 natural coordinates remaining.
Knowledge Management Framework for Design Verification Process With Computer-Aided Engineering Analysis
Authors: Nomaguchi Yutaka , Nakashima Kousuke , Fujita Kikuo
Published: March 2011

Computer-based engineering analysis has become an essential means for verifying an engineering design. Its effects depend on not only available computational methods and computer performance but also what models and conditions are given to the computation. Their explicit representation and management must become a forefront and serious task of computer-aided design activities for their better documentation, more appropriate quality assurance, wider utilization, etc. This paper proposes a framework for representing and managing the knowledge involved in engineering analysis modeling for design verification. The computation-based design consists of the two phases, engineering analysis for understanding physical phenomena and design verification based on its results. The management format of the engineering analysis modeling process, which is named EAMM (Engineering Analysis Modeling Matrix), is introduced for the first phase. The process structure of design verification and classification of designer’s decision making are discussed for the second phase by referring the framework of EAMM. gIBIS (graphical Issue-Based Information System) model, which is a format for describing argumentation, is adopted for representing the process structure and the designer’s decision makings. A design process of a micro mixing mechanism demonstrates the potential and the promise of a proposed framework.
Compliant Hexagonal Meso-Structures Having Both High Shear Strength and High Shear Strain
Authors: Ju Jaehyung , Summers Joshua D. , Ziegert John , Fadel George
Published: March 2011

Motivated by the authors’ previous study on flexible honeycomb design with negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR) often called ‘auxetic’ [1], more geometric options of hexagonal honeycomb meso-structures are explored with various ratios of the vertical cell length, h to the inclined length, l. While designing an effective shear modulus, e.g., G12* of 10MPa, of hexagonal honeycombs, we are searching honeycomb geometries. Using an aluminum alloy (7075-T6) as the constituent material, the in-plane linear elastic honeycomb model is employed to get effective shear moduli, effective shear yield strengths and effective shear yield strains of hexagonal honeycombs. The numerical parametric study based on the linear cellular theory is combined with honeycomb design to get the optimal cell geometry associated with a manufacturing limitation. The re-entrant geometry makes 7075-T6 NPR honeycombs flexible, resulting in an effective shear yield strength, (τpl*)12 of 1.7MPa and an effective shear yield strain, (γpl*)12 of 0.17 when they are designed to have a G12* of 10MPa.
A Novel 5 DOF Fully Parallel Robot Combining 3T1R Motion and Grasping
Authors: Lambert Patrice , Langen Hans , Munnig Schmidt Robert
Published: March 2011

This paper presents an innovative 5 DOF robot that generates 3T1R motion (3 translations + 1 rotation) plus a linear grasping motion. To generate this type of grasping motion, a robot needs two end-effectors. Grasping motions are usually generated by adding a grasping device at the top of an already existing robot or by coordinating two distinct robots. We propose in this paper a new robot architecture which includes the grasping degree of freedom as a part of the mechanism itself. The two end-effectors of the mechanism are mounted on an articulated platform and can move together in a 3T1R motion and their distance to each other can be controlled to generate the grasping capability. The 5 actuators are located on the base and are connected with five identical legs to the two end-effectors using only mechanical links, forming a fully parallel robot with 5 DOF. The architecture of the robot will be presented in detail. Then, we will describe the kinematics needed for the control of the robot. Finally, geometric optimization results will be presented and discussed.
A Modular Design Method Considering Defense From Leakage of Synthetic Functions: A Case Study of a Paper Feeding System
Authors: Hirao Akihiro , Koga Tsuyoshi , Aoyama Kazuhiro
Published: March 2011

This study proposes a modular design method that considers defense from leakage of the synthetic function. Today’s modular design method might lead to an increase in of the leakage of intellectual property. If the modular design were able to conceal the structure of the interactions of product components which realize the product functions, the competitive value of synthetic function might be protected and its life might be extended in the market. The proposed method was implemented to a prototype system (the paper feeder on a photocopier). The result showed the Pareto solution for the trade-offs of manufacturing cost reduction through outsourcing and the defense against the leakage of synthetic function value, indicating a module division plan with both aspects balanced at a high level. The comprehensive evaluation confirmed that the proposed balanced plan accounted for a more satisfactory evaluation value than the other two plans. Specifically, the study recommended the module division plan that enables around a 74% reduction of risk of leakage of synthetic function and about a 43% overall loss, even though the manufacturing cost worsened by approximately 42% when compared to the plan emphasizing manufacturing cost reduction. These application results support the hypothesis that modular design can conceal the structure of functional interactions. Therefore, it was concluded that the proposed module design method was more effective than the existing method, which does not consider the hiding and concealing of the functional interactions of the synthetic value.
Kinematic Design of a Thumb Metacarpal for an Anthropomorphic Robotic Hand
Authors: Demers Louis-Alexis Allen , Gosselin Cle´ment
Published: March 2011

This paper presents the kinematic design of a thumb metacarpal for a cable-driven anthropomorphic robotic hand. The general problem of finding the position and orientation of an axis around which a given vector is rotated from a position to another is first assessed. A particular case of this problem follows, in which the final direction of the vector has to be in opposition to the initial one, as for the adduction-opposition movement of the thumb. The configuration of the transmission system for the flexor tendon of the thumb is then established. This allows the calculation of the position and orientation of the deflecting pulley in the metacarpal, followed by the evaluation of the trajectory of the pulley system. Finally, a prototype of the thumb metacarpal is presented.
Knowledge Retention and Reuse: Using CAD Models as Carriers of Knowledge in Product Development
Authors: Lundin Michael , Sandberg Stefan , Na¨sstro¨m Mats
Published: March 2011

In order to ensure competitive advantage, manufacturers need to reduce the time and resources spent on development without affecting the quality and performance of the final product. Studies show that designers are likely to change both job and company several times during their career. The loss of experience and expertise implies that new methods for efficient knowledge retention and reuse need to be developed. Results presented in this paper include development and implementation of a previously proposed method suggesting the use of CAD models as carriers of knowledge. The method has been further developed and realised in a three-part demonstrator, each part addressing one aspect of a holistic approach to efficient knowledge retention and reuse. The approach presented here does not require the use of any additional applications during product development and it ensures that the designer has access to necessary information, where and when it is needed. This approach also results in less time spent on documentation, data conversion and information retrieval.
Controlled Maneuverability of an Articulated Tracked Mobile Robot
Authors: Labenda Patrick , Sadek Tim , Predki Thomas
Published: March 2011

Considerable potentials with regard to mobility in unstructured environment offer actively articulated mobile robots equipped with powered wheels or tracks. These potentials are obvious when dealing with a system’s trafficability and terrainability. However, maneuverability and steerability of articulated mobile robots are challenging. This is due to the fact that these robots represent a form of truck-trailer systems leading to interactions and influences between the individual vehicles resulting in significant problems like e.g. off-tracking with regard to a given path. Further on, when dealing with a mobile robot’s maneuverability there are only few scientific contributions covering articulated vehicles with actively powered trailers using tracks as propulsive elements. The described systems differ significantly with regard to their configuration with respect to the multi-redundant mobile robot in this work. To investigate the maneuverability of articulated tracked mobile robots a demonstrator has been developed. It is built up out of three identical modules which are connected with each other in a rowby means of a rotational and a translational degree-of-freedom. Each module has two tracks which can be powered independently. Overall, the system has got ten degrees-of-freedom whereas six of them are active and four passive. The developed demonstrator has been used for investigations dealing with maneuverability and steerability as well as modularization of the system’s control architecture. The paper summarizes the development of the mobile robot, its feedback control strategy as well as the tests carried out. The achieved results show a satisfying performance with regard to the implemented control strategy and the system’s maneuverability.
The Repeatability of High Definition Design Structure Matrix (HDDSM) Models for Representing Product Architecture
Authors: Tilstra Andrew H. , Seepersad Carolyn C. , Wood Kristin L.
Published: March 2011

Product architecture has implications for product success that go beyond meeting basic customer needs or performance requirements. The mapping of functions to components and the interactions between them impacts the potential for using all or part of the product to build a family of products, the ease with which the product can be redesigned to meet previously unanticipated customer needs, and the way in which engineering design changes propagate during the design process. For practical applications of design theory, it would be beneficial to have a comprehensive and robust model that captures product architecture and can be used for multiple purposes. Some fields of design research have used variations of a Design Structure Matrix (DSM) to record the interactions between elements of a system. The High Definition Design Structure Matrix (HDDSM) has been proposed as a model that limits the subjectivity required from designers by capturing the existence of very specific types of interactions between product components. This work evaluates the repeatability of HDDSM models created by different examiners for a set of electromechanical products. The inter-rater agreement between HDDSM models created by pairs of examiners is determined by calculating the kappa agreement index for each type of component interaction. The results of this initial study demonstrate very encouraging levels of repeatability across examiners for different types of products. Based on these results, recommendations are provided for creating objective models of product architecture and using such models for a number of exploratory research tasks, such as automated analysis of design guidelines.
Effect of Product Design on Buyback Price of End-of-Use Consumer Electronics
Authors: Kwak Minjung , Kim Harrison M. , Thurston Deborah
Published: March 2011

Buying back used products and reselling them to the second-hand market has emerged as a new business model in the consumer electronics market. The price that a buyback company pays for a used product is important for manufacturers in that it affects new product sales as well as end-of-life recovery. To clarify what the key factors are in deciding buyback price of used electronics and to help manufacturers manage the buyback price from the design stage, this paper presents an empirical study of buyback price with an example of laptop. Several hundred laptops of the past decade are examined and their buyback prices as of now are estimated using a pricing engine of a real buyback company. The statistical analysis shows the relations of design specification to buyback price as well as the impacts of cosmetic condition and hardware reliability.
Low-Velocity Impact Behavior of Aluminum-Fiber/Epoxy Laminates: A Comprehensive Experimental Study
Authors: Alemi-Ardakani Mohammad , Afaghi-Khatibi Akbar , Milani Abbas S. , Parsaiyan Hady
Published: March 2011

Considering many potential applications of fiber reinforced metal laminates (FMLs) in sensitive structures, it is necessary to understand their mechanical behavior under impact loads. In this study, low velocity impact tests based on ASTM D7136 have been conducted on FMLs made of 1050 aluminum sheets and various types of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) layers; namely E-Glass, Kevlar 49, and carbon T300 plain woven in the epoxy resin. Projectile energy, fiber type and the number of successive impacts are selected among important parameters that can affect the performance of FMLs. In particular, the effects of these parameters on the absorbed energy, contact force, front and rear face damage areas, central deflection and permanent deformation of FMLs have been investigated. For determining the damage area and central deflection of the specimens, an image processing method is adapted.
A VR-Based Prototyping and Demonstration Platform Integrating a Fully Active X-by-Wire Test Vehicle
Authors: Kreft Sven , Lorenz Wadim , Berssenbru¨gge Jan , Gausemeier Ju¨rgen , Tra¨chtler Ansgar
Published: March 2011

Interconnected basic vehicle functions, such as braking, steering and driving, have great potential to improve vehicle safety and comfort. In order to design and test the necessary control functions, a fully active X-by-wire test vehicle (“Chamaeleon”) has been developed. However, while demonstrating the vehicle’s capabilities with real test drives is of high risk, a driving simulator that integrates the entire vehicle provides safe conditions for interactive demonstration test drives — even for untrained drivers. In this paper, we introduce a driving simulator that is composed of Virtual Reality-based simulation software and the Chamaeleon test vehicle. This provides a prototyping and demonstration platform for integrated vehicle-dynamics control functions. Therefore, we enhanced an existing driving simulator. Moreover, we realized control functions in order to utilize the Chamaeleon’s active suspension to provide a motion platform with three degrees-of-freedom. The driving simulator has proven well as a demonstration platform during two international industry fairs. Here, the main goal was, to interactively illustrate the unconventional steering strategies as well as dedicated functionalities of the Chamaeleon. Although the achieved motion feedback is not very realistic, the presence of motion was very welcomed by fair attendees, who performed a simulated test drive. Additionally, first tests have shown that the driving simulator can be used as a prototyping platform. Here, complex control functions can be tested on actual vehicle hardware, while driving in a secured synthetic environment. This enables engineers to instantly perceive the impacts of the control algorithms on the behavior of the vehicle. This facilitates the development process.
Inverse Molecular Dynamics Modeling Performance on GPU Architectures for a Problem of Fracture
Authors: Iliopoulos Athanasios P. , Michopoulos John G. , Lambrakos Samuel G. , Bernstein Noam
Published: March 2011

The recent growth of General Purpose Graphic Processor Units (GPGPUs) technologies as well as the ongoing need for linking usability performance with structural materials processing and design across many length and time scales have motivated the present work. The inverse problem of determining the Lennard-Jones potential governing the fracture dynamics of atoms comprising a sheet of metal under tension, is used to examine the feasibility of utilizing efficiently GPGPU architectures. The implementation of this inverse problem under a molecular dynamics framework verifies the ability of this methodology to deliver the intended results. Subsequently, a sensitivity analysis is performed on GPGPU-enabled hardware to examine the effect of the size of the problem under consideration on the efficiency of various combinations of GPGPU and Central Processing Unit (CPU) cores. Speedup factors are determined relative to a single core CPU of a quad core processor.
Optimization of Shunted Piezoelectric Patches for Vibration Reduction of Complex Structures: Application to a Turbojet Fan Blade
Authors: Se´ne´chal Aure´lien , Thomas Olivier , Deu¨ Jean-Franc¸ois
Published: March 2011

Vibration reduction of a turbojet fan blade with piezoelectric patches connected to a passive electrical circuit, commonly called “shunt”, is addressed in this study. The purpose of this work is to present a method for maximizing the performance of a piezoelectric resonant shunt. The cases of resistive shunt [1] and switch techniques [2] are not covered here but the method remains valid.
Vibration Suppression Using Distributed Tuned Mass Damper Technology
Authors: Yang F. , Sedaghati R. , Esmailzadeh E.
Published: March 2011

The Distributed Tuned Mass Damper (DTMD) technology, which is one of the modifications of the classical Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) technique, is defined as the multiple TMD design based on one mode of the primary structures. The modeling procedure for this kind of problem is similar to that for the single TMD design, especially for discrete (or modeled as) primary structures, such as the building-type structures. Therefore, the challenge work in this area is to attain the best vibration suppression performance through an optimally designed DTMD system. From the point of optimization, basically, two typical approaches have been utilized to design the DTMD system. The first one is to directly obtain the transfer function and then define the variance or the Dynamic Magnification Factors (DMF) as objective functions, which was utilized by many researchers. In the other methodology, the transfer function is expressed as a dynamic model with an optimal H2 controller under predefined form. In this study, a new optimal DTMD design approach will be presented, in which the optimization objective function and method will be established based on the Linear Quadratic Controller design method. The presented method provides a simple and straightforward way to design the DTMD system. The numerical example will be presented to illustrate the vibration suppression performance of the optimally designed DTMD system.
An Engineering Design Strategy for Reconfigurable Products That Support Poverty Alleviation
Authors: Lewis Patrick K. , Mattson Christopher A. , Murray Vance R.
Published: March 2011

Reconfigurable products can adapt to new and changing customer needs. One potential, high-impact, area for product reconfiguration is in the design of income-generating products for poverty alleviation. Non-reconfigurable income-generating products such as manual irrigation pumps have helped millions of people sustainably escape poverty. However, millions of other impoverished people are unwilling to invest in these relatively costly products because of the high perceived and actual financial risk involved. As a result, these individuals do not benefit from such technologies. Alternatively, when income-generating products are designed to be reconfigurable, the window of affordability can be expanded to attract more individuals, while simultaneously making the product adaptable to the changing customer needs that accompany an increased income. The method provided in this paper significantly reduces the risks associated with purchasing income-generating products while simultaneously allowing the initial purchase to serve as a foundation for future increases in income. The method presented builds on principles of multiobjective optimization and Pareto optimality, by allowing the product to move from one location on the Pareto frontier to another through the addition of modules and reconfiguration. Elements of product family design are applied as each instantiation of the reconfigurable product is considered in the overall design optimization of the product. The design of a modular irrigation pump for developing nations demonstrates the methodology.
Life Cycle Assessment of Modern Wind Power Plants
Authors: Hapke Hannes M. , Haapala Karl R. , Wu Zhaohui , Brekken Ted K. A.
Published: March 2011

Power generation for the existing electrical grid is largely based on the combustion of fossil fuels. Global concerns have been raised regarding the environmental sustainability of the system due to life cycle impacts, including land losses from fuel extraction and impacts of combustion emissions. An approach to reduce carbon emissions of fossil fuel-based energy employs the conversion of wind energy to electrical energy. The work presented describes modern wind power plants and provides an environmental assessment of a representative wind park from a life cycle perspective. The empirical analysis uses commercially available data, as well as information from an existing wind power plant. The life cycle assessment (LCA) study for a modern wind farm in the northwestern U.S. found that environmental benefits of avoiding typical electricity production greatly outweigh the impacts due to wind turbine construction and maintenance. Effects of component reliability, varying capacity factors, and energy portfolio are explored.
Mass Customization: A Review of the Paradigm Across Marketing, Engineering and Distribution Domains
Authors: Ferguson Scott , Olewnik Andrew , Malegaonkar Priyesh , Cormier Phil , Kansara Saket
Published: March 2011

Introduced nearly 25 years ago, the paradigm of mass customization (MC) has largely not lived up to its promise. Despite great strides in information technology, engineering design practice, and manufacturing production, the necessary process innovations that can produce products and systems with sufficient customization and economic efficiency have yet to be found in wide application. In this paper, the state-of-the-art in MC is explored in order to answer the question of “why not?” and to highlight areas for specific research in the MC paradigm. To establish perspective for this work, we consider MC to be a product development approach which allows for the production of goods — after a customer places an order — which minimize the tradeoff between the ideal product and the available product by fulfilling the needs and preferences of individuals functionally, emotionally and anthropologically. Results of this research were generated by reviewing 88 papers from various journals that span three domains of interest (marketing, engineering, and distribution) and explore proposed methodologies, specific information inputs and outputs, proposed metrics, and barriers toward the implementation of MC. Qualitatively, we show that the lack of MC in application is due to two factors: 1) a lack of marketing tools capable of capturing individual needs that can be mapped to the technical space; and 2) a lack of information relation mechanisms that connect the domains of marketing, engineering, and distribution. In the end it is our belief that MC is realizable and that eventually it will emerge as a dominant paradigm in the design and delivery of products and systems. However, pursuing the opportunities for research presented in this work will hopefully speed this emergence.
Energy Harvesting Using Piezoceramics
Authors: Kulkarni Vainatey , Ben Mrad Ridha , El-Diraby Tamer , Prasad Eswar
Published: March 2011

Energy harvesting devices are growing in popularity for their ability to capture the ambient energy surrounding a system and convert it into usable electrical energy. With an increasing demand for portable electronics and an increased interest in the implementation of arrays of wireless sensors in a number of sectors such as health monitoring in civil infrastructure, MEMS sensor arrays for automotive and aerospace applications, and environmental control, there is a surge in research in the area of power harvesting. One such method of implementing a harvesting system is to use ambient vibration in conjunction with a piezoelectric device to generate electric energy based on the direct piezoelectric effect. This paper presents an overview of recent developments in piezoelectric based energy harvesters for microsystems and nanosystems applications along the various materials used for energy harvesting. The paper also tests two common energy harvester designs to observe their difference in operation.
Initial Design and Evaluation of an Intra-Cardiac Camera System for Ventricular Septal Defects
Authors: Hart Keir D. , Mitchell Max B. , Rentschler Mark E.
Published: March 2011

The primary objective of this project is to design, fabricate, and test a small, integrated camera system for aiding in the visualization and surgical repair of ventricular septal defects (VSDs), or holes in the heart wall, in pediatric patients. Currently, a less invasive device to view VSDs from the left ventricle of the heart does not exist. This left perspective is ideal for obtaining an unobstructed view of the VSD. The proposed VSD camera device would also provide a platform for passing a suture through the hole in the septal wall, with future work implementing additional tools capable of more advanced tasks. This camera device will help solve some of the major issues currently associated with both cardiac imaging and surgical intervention of VSDs by providing a minimally invasive camera platform for viewing VSDs from the left ventricle. This paper examines the design development and preliminary evaluation of a proof of concept device. Included are preliminary results of image quality comparisons and design details of a pediatric-specific VSD camera device.
Functional Decomposition of the Clustering Approach for Matrix-Based Structuring
Authors: Li Simon
Published: March 2011

In engineering design, matrices have been commonly used to capture dependency relationships for structure-related problems (e.g., product architecture, process workflow, and team organization). In this context, structuring is considered a group formation process that clusters the design entities and identifies the interactions among the formed groups. To support matrix-based design structuring, this paper proposes a clustering approach that has three phases in the working procedure. Firstly, the coupling analysis is used to assess the coupling strength of any two entities according to the application context. Secondly, the sorting analysis is used to organize the matrix’s rows and columns by bringing the highly coupled entities close to each other, thus yielding a sorted matrix. Thirdly, the partitioning analysis is applied to form a structured matrix that identifies the groups of entities and their interactions based on some structural criteria (e.g., number of groups, limits on group sizes, etc). The proposed clustering method has been applied to four engineering examples to demonstrate its flexibility and adaptability in tackling different design structuring problems.
Design Procedure of a Nonlinear Vibration Absorber: Enhancement of the Amplitude Robustness
Authors: Viguie´ Re´gis , Kerschen Gae¨tan
Published: March 2011

Nonlinear vibration absorbers are known as being frequency-robust but not amplitude-robust devices. This lack of amplitude robustness is due to the frequency-energy dependence of their related nonlinear oscillations. This feature makes the design of nonlinear vibration absorbers a particulary challenging problem. In this paper an innovative design procedure of a nonlinear vibration absorber is proposed so that a nonlinear mode of a nonlinear primary structure can be controlled in a frequency and amplitude robustness fashion.
Estimation of the Scope of Change Propagation in Object-Oriented Programming
Authors: Rajinia Elmira , Li Simon
Published: March 2011

When minor modifications need to be made in an object-oriented computer program, they often incur further more changes due to the presence of dependency in the codes and the program structure. Yet, to accommodate the required change, there can also be more than one option to carry out the initial modifications. To select the modification option in this context, this paper proposes a systematic approach to estimate the scope of change propagation of an object-oriented program given some initial modifications. The strategy is to first capture the dependency relationships of the entities pertaining to an object-oriented program via the matrix representation. Based on this matrix-based model, the priority number method is proposed and applied to estimate the scope of change propagation by assuming some initial modifications. The core of this method is to estimate the chance of affecting other program entities due to some modified entities. A case study is conducted throughout the paper to illustrate and justify the proposed method.
Strategic Product Design Decisions for Uncertain Market Systems Using an Agent Based Approach
Authors: Wang Z. , Azarm S. , Kannan P. K.
Published: March 2011

Market players, such as competing manufacturing firms and retail channels, can significantly influence the demand and profit of a new product. Existing methods in design for market systems use game theoretic models that can maximize a focal manufacturing firm’s profit with respect to product design and price variables given the Nash equilibrium of the market system. However, in the design for uncertain market systems, there is seldom equilibrium with players having fixed strategies in a given time period. In this paper, we propose an agent based approach for design for market systems that accounts for learning behaviors of the market players under uncertainty. By learning behaviors we mean that market players gradually, over a time period, learn to play with better strategies based on action-reaction behaviors of other players. We model a market system with agents representing competing manufacturers and retailers who possess learning capabilities and are able to automatically react and make decisions on the product design and pricing. The proposed approach provides strategic design and pricing decisions for a focal manufacturer in response to anticipated reactions from market players in the short and long term horizons. Our example results show that the proposed agent based approach can produce competitive strategies for a focal firm over a time period when market players react only by setting prices compared to a game theoretic approach. Furthermore, it can yield profitable product design decisions and competitive strategies when competing firms react by changing design attributes in the short term — a case for which no previous method in design for market systems has been reported.
Incorporating Field Effects Into Modular Architecture Methods
Authors: Otto Kevin , Ho¨ltta¨-Otto Katja
Published: March 2011

Prior research on methods and algorithms to create modules and modular architectures deal with minimizing interactions between modules and increasing the commonality between products. While these approaches are a good start and provide good suggestions for preliminary architecture, these algorithms ignore the fact that some design solutions cannot be placed in regions of high heat, high pressure, high magnetic fields, etc. The exclusion of such field effect constraints often results in architecture clustering algorithms forming impractical solutions. In this paper, we introduce a field based definition of modularity constraints that incorporate these practical embodiment considerations. We demonstrate the method via examples and a detailed case study in medical device industry. We find that the field based module definitions not only bring the constraints of fields to the attention of the designer, but it also enables new creative solutions through movement of the field boundaries over different functions or components. Generally, only the two endpoint set-of-functions need be at different field values, and the intermediary parts or functions connecting them can be in either field. We conclude with a set of architectural guidelines to bridge the gap between current work and practical architectural synthesis considerations.
A Global Collaborative Effort to Enhance Design in a Mechanical Engineering Curriculum in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Merah Nesar , Yang Maria C. , Wallace David R. , Seering Warren P. , Tang Victor , Arif Abul Fazal , Eleiche Abdel-Salam , Shuaib Abdel-Rahman , Abu-Dheir Numan , Bahaidarah Haitham M. S.
Published: March 2011

In 2008, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Saudi Arabia and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) partnered together to develop project-based curricular material to be tested out in a new undergraduate course offering in KFUPM’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. This paper details some of the unique challenges to collaborating across countries and time zones, and the approaches the KFUPM-MIT team used to address these. These approaches have so far included the establishment of a shared vision for the project and the use of an array of technologies to facilitate distance communication. The paper concludes with a description of lessons learned that might be useful for future programs that plan to engage in international collaboration on design education.
Pilot of Systematic Ideation Study With Lessons Learned
Authors: Schmidt Linda C. , Vargas Hernandez Noe , Kremer Gu¨l , Linsey Julie
Published: March 2011

This work describes an experiment to research improving the ideation performance of undergraduate engineering students in classroom settings. This research investigates the impact of TRIZ, increasing emphasis on sketching during design, and using the Pulse Smartpen, on ideation performance. The research team’s goal is to develop an experimental design and protocols for this suite of ideation tools. Successful experimentation will provide a standard way to benchmark ideation tool effectiveness. The experimental design includes training students in the appropriate tools for their treatment condition and presenting students with an ideation design assignment. The design assignment results will be analyzed using ideation measures of novelty, variety, quantity and quality as defined in the literature. Results from pilot work at three institutions are introduced here along with observations on the experimental process to date.
Constraint Management of Reduced Representation Variables in Decomposition-Based Design Optimization
Authors: Alexander Michael J. , Allison James T. , Papalambros Panos Y. , Gorsich David J.
Published: March 2011

In decomposition-based design optimization strategies, such as Analytical Target Cascading (ATC), it is sometimes necessary to use reduced dimensionality representations to approximate functions of large dimensionality whose values need to be exchanged among subproblems. The reduced representation variables may not be physically meaningful, and it can become challenging to constrain them properly and define the model validity region. For example, in coordination strategies like ATC, representing vector-valued coupling variables with improperly constrained reduced representation variables can lead to poor performance or convergence failure. This paper examines two approaches for constraining effectively the model validity region of reduced representation variables based on proper orthogonal decomposition: a penalty value-based heuristic and a support vector domain description. An ATC application on electric vehicle design helps to illustrate the concepts discussed.
Layout Design of a Wii™ Remote Motion Capture System: Formulation and Solution
Authors: Singhee Mukul , Holmes Jonathan F. , Allen Janet K. , Mistree Farrokh
Published: March 2011

In this paper, a method is proposed to design intelligent systems with the fundamental function of facilitating information flow from the environment and its subsequent integration. We use the Pahl and Beitz systematic design method to tease out the salient requirements for the design of a motion capture system for ergonomic worker safety and training. The current devices employed for this purpose have drawbacks in the form of a need for a controlled environment and a high cost of implementation. A systematic consideration of the requirements for the intended application and ongoing efforts in the Georgia Tech Research Institute led us to consider the platform of the Nintendo Wii™ remote. The system is designed to be inexpensive and usable in any environment with minimum intrusion to the subject. Our example system is based on the custom requirements for a manufacturing environment where workers are at a high risk for repetitive stress injuries. We select appropriate physiological measures and capture the associated data using our designed system. We utilize our adapted method by describing the conceptual design and selection of a novel approach to the mounting of the Nintendo Wii Remote™. In the embodiment design phase, we describe how we determine key parameters for the layout design of the system. The decisions made in the process are verified by the generation of a prototype system that was tested on human subjects.
The Commonality Differentiation Index Using Prominence of Visual Information for Medication Package Family Planning
Authors: Shooter Steven B. , Cohen Shane W.
Published: March 2011

Consumable products such as medications rely on the package or label to represent the contents. Package confusion has been widely recognized as a major problem for both over-the-counter and pharmacy-dispensed medications with potentially lethal consequences. It is critical to identify a medication as a member of a product family and differentiate its contributing elements based on visual features on the package or label. Indices that indicate degrees of commonality and differentiation of features for platforms have been shown to benefit development of engineered product families. It is possible to take a similar approach for visual features in packaging such as typography, shape/form, imagery and color. This paper establishes a commonality/differentiation index for prominence of visual features on over-the-counter and pharmacy-dispensed medications based on size and location of features. It provides a quantitative measure to assist package designers in evaluating alternatives to satisfy strategic goals and improve safety. The index is demonstrated with several medications that have been identified by the Institute for Safe Medication Practice as commonly confused.
Dynamic Modelling of a Cubic Flying Robot
Authors: St-Onge David , Gosselin Cle´ment , Reeves Nicolas
Published: March 2011

This paper presents preliminary results on the dynamic modelling of a cubic flying robot referred to as the Tryphon. Several Tryphons and other similar cubic flying robots have been built in the course of this project. They are used for artistic performances in museums, art galleries or theatres. Although the Tryphons are functional, they are difficult to control because of limited knowledge of their behaviour. Hence, the development of a dynamic model has the potential to significantly improve the control performances. Based on models found in the literature, the aerostatics, aerodynamics, gravity, buoyancy and inertial effects of the Tryphon are combined into a dynamic model in this paper. The parameters of the proposed model are adjusted based on experimental data obtained with the Tryphons. It is shown that a proper selection and optimization of the parameters can accurately predict the dynamics of the robot. Further extensions of the model are discussed and potential applications are proposed.
Symbolic Math-Based Battery Modeling for Electric Vehicle Simulation
Authors: Seaman Aden N. , McPhee John
Published: March 2011

We present results of a math-based model of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) designed in MapleSim. This model has the benefits of being described in a physically consistent way using acausal system components. We used a battery model by Chen and Rinc´on-Mora to develop a math-based model of a complete battery pack, and developed simple power controller, motor/generator, terrain, and drive-cycle models to test the vehicle under various conditions. The resulting differential equations are simplified symbolically and then simulated numerically to give results that are physically consistent and clearly show the tight coupling between the battery and longitudinal vehicle dynamics.
Towards a Decentralised Approach to Modelling Connectivity in Complex Products
Authors: Ariyo Owolabi , Eckert Claudia M. , Clarkson P. John
Published: March 2011

Connectivity models are useful aids to support design reviews but building the models is an extremely effort intensive process. Connectivity models help to minimise incidents of unexpected rework by drawing attention to vital component interfaces and dependencies. The uptake of connectivity models can be enhanced if effort burden associated model building is significantly reduced. This paper describes an investigation into the use of a distributed approach to building connectivity models as a means of effort reduction. The Design Structure Matrix is broken down into sub-sections which are L-shaped or cross-shaped. These sub-sections are referred to as modules of the connectivity model. The effort required for building a model is compartmentalised within the modules. In other words, the minimisation of model building effort is attained by distributing the modules such that each individual’s effort contribution is limited to within a single module.
Disassembly Process Planning Tradeoffs for Product Maintenance
Authors: Behdad Sara , Thurston Deborah
Published: March 2011

The problem addressed in this paper is disassembly sequence planning for the purposes of maintenance or component upgrading, which is an integral part of the remanufacturing process. This involves disassembly, component repair or replacement, and reassembly. Each of these steps incurs cost as well as the probability of damage during the process. This paper presents a method for addressing these tradeoffs, as well as the uncertainty associated with them. A procedure for identifying the best sequence of disassembly operations for maintenance and/or component upgrade is presented. It considers both disassembly and reassembly costs and uncertainties. Graph-based integer linear programming combined with multiattribute utility analysis is employed to identify the best set of tradeoffs among (a) disassembly time (and resulting cost) under uncertainty, (b) the probability of not incurring damage during disassembly, (c) reassembly time (and resulting cost) and (d) the probability of not incurring damage during reassembly. An example of a solar heating system is used to illustrate the method.
High-G Hardened Sensors
Authors: Pereira Carlos M. , Rastegar Jahangir
Published: March 2011

The state of the art in shock resistant accelerometer and gyro design is to use smaller proof mass, thereby reducing the related forces that are generated as a result of high acceleration levels. Physical stops are also provided to limit the maximum proof mass displacement/rotation. The introduction of MEMS technology has made it possible to significantly reduce the proof mass. However, all existing accelerometer/gyro designs for high shock resistance suffer from low sensitivity at the very low acceleration levels required for guidance and control purposes, and from long settling time. The basic method of design and the concepts described in this patent provide the means to alleviate these shortcomings. The novelty in these designs is in the provision of the means to lock the proof mass in its “null” position during the high accelerations, such as during shock (impact) loading, and release it afterwards. The locking mechanism may be passive or active. As a result, the settling time of the proof mass is minimized and the precision with which the sensor can make its measurements is significantly increased.
Applying Knowledge-Based Engineering to Control Software Generation
Authors: Foeken Maarten , Alvarez Cabrera Andre´s A. , Voskuijl Mark , van Tooren Michel
Published: March 2011

The development of control software for mechatronic systems requires data and information from all design domains in order to create the required integrated functionality. This paper proposes a method that combines function modeling and multi-domain modeling primitives to generate control software. Provided a function model based on the Function-Behavior-State modeling paradigm and performance requirements, a knowledge-based engineering application instantiates a virtual product model and control software for a target platform. Object-oriented modeling techniques provide for the development of primitive libraries, which represent both hardware and software components, while integrated design rules ensure that components are correctly placed and connected. Requirements are translated to software specific parameters. A case study of a mobile robot shows that for specific applications both target and simulation control software code can be generated from the same input, and a generated virtual product model can serve as a simulation model in order to validate functionality.
Systematic Testing of Intelligent Mechatronic Systems in a Virtual Environment
Authors: Radkowski Rafael , Krupp Alexander
Published: March 2011

This paper introduces a virtual reality-based approach for the systematic testing of intelligent mechatronic systems. The method of systematic testing is a model-based and formal testing method for the verification of the information processing of mechatronic systems. Systematic testing emerges from the field of embedded systems where it is used to evaluate the embedded electric circuits especially the discrete controllers, which are represented by these circuits. The challenge in the field of mechatronic is to evaluate and to understand the test results itself, in particular, the relations between the continuous behavior of the system, the reactions of controller, and the test inputs. Virtual reality facilitates the analysis of systematic tests by the combination of virtual 3D models and visualization techniques. The 3D models show the behavior of the system, visualizations explain the abstract test data. The paper explains the use of VR for the systematic testing, the created visualizations techniques and their benefit with an application example.