User-led development of an Interactive Evolutionary Design system

This paper includes two distinct but related elements: 1. It raises issues surrounding how Interactive Evolutionary Design (IED) systems are developed and their adoption by industry; 2. It describes an existing IED system known as ‘Evolutionary Form Design’ (EFD). These elements are linked through the proposal that the EFD system can contribute to addressing the issues raised. The paper opens with the suggestion that investigation is needed into the disappointing uptake of IED in commercial industrial design. Preliminary enquiries suggest that awareness of the technology in the design community is minimal. Concern is also expressed with the apparent lack of end-user participation in IED development. Reasons for these issues are suggested. The next section provides an overview of the EFD system’s implementation within a CAD system, and its representation employing blended geometric primitives interacting through Boolean operators. Some distinctive features are then described: control of Boolean interaction, edge blending strategies, a team-forming algorithm and machine-based geometric and aesthetic optimization. The section ends by listing the system’s strengths pertaining to its suitability for use in the proposed user-trials and outreach activities that are outlined in the last section. Conclusions re-affirm that the described EFD system overcomes some of the perceived barriers to greater uptake in design practice and will be further developed via inter-disciplinary collaboration and greater user involvement

Application of additive manufacturing to the digital restoration of archaeological artefacts

The application of digital technologies to relic conservation is a common research topic in the field of world cultural heritage. Both the inheritance of traditional techniques and the introduction of advanced technologies depend on the users and their awareness and understanding of cultural heritage. Manufacturing processes are the manifestations of culture and art, and there are always new methods appearing in the historical development. Digital technology is now one of these methods, which inherits cultural aspects, improves efficiency and raises quality. Every technology has advantages and limitations. What is important is developing the advantages and avoiding the weaknesses, integrative utilisation, and designing feasible and effective solutions. This paper explains process chains for optimised archiving, restoration, and replication of archaeological artefacts. It shows the exploration of overlapping areas between 3D digital technologies and traditional art, application examples of optimally combined forward and reverse engineering (RE), and developing prospects in the cultural creative industry. The outputs from the research should prove to be valuable to anyone working in the field of digital restoration, particularly when a physical replica is required. This applies in the archaeological domain but also in any field requiring artistic modelling of complex surfaces

Application of additive manufacturing to fine art sculpture

Additive manufacturing (AM) has shown itself to be beneficial in many application areas, including product design and manufacture, medical models and prosthetics, architectural modelling and artistic endeavours. For some of these applications, coupling AM with reverse engineering (RE) enables the utilisation of data from existing 3D shapes. This paper describes the application of AM and RE within sculpture manufacture, in order to optimise the process chain for sculpture reproduction and relic conservation and restoration. This area poses particular problems since the original artefacts can often be fragile and inaccessible, and the finishing required on the AM replicas is both complex and varied. Two on-going projects are presented as case studies: a group of large scale sculptures of horses that will be created and installed in Ordos, Mongolia; and the repair of an antique from the Forbidden City in Beijing. The latter project in particular involves a wide range of artefact shapes and downstream finishing techniques. The combination of digital technologies and traditional art requires interdisciplinary knowledge across engineering and fine art. Also, definitions and requirements (e.g. ‘accuracy’), can be applied in both engineering and artistic terms when specifications and trade-offs are being considered. The paper discusses the feasibility for using these technologies across domains, and explores the potential for developing new market opportunities for AM. The paper finishes with conclusions about the feasibility, constraints, pros and cons of adopting AM in this area

Application of additive manufacturing to the digital restoration of archaeological artefacts

A review of literature showed that published applications of Additive Manufacturing (AM) to digital restoration of archaeological artefacts was rather limited. This paper reports a substantial body of work that has been done in this area. It has been used to determine how AM and subsequent processes should be optimally applied, and introduces a series of process maps that have been generated to guide future practical work. The research methodology employed was predominantly action research, where the researcher undertakes practical work in a reflective manner to develop answers to specific research questions, with a combination of questionnaires and expert interviews used for validating the process maps. The results generated from the work indicated that archaeological artefacts can be characterised according to subject, material, complexity of shape, overall size, minimum feature size, and surface finish. The optimised application of AM and subsequent processes can then be specified in response to these requirements. The outputs from the research should prove to be valuable to anyone working in the field of digital restoration and fine art sculpture, particularly when digital capture of shape and the creation of physical replicas are required. The main contribution to knowledge is the characterisation of archaeological artefacts and the resultant process maps derived from this characterisation. However, the range of projects undertaken was not representative of every combination of artefact characteristics, and some requirements could not be met fully by current AM capabilities, so there remains a need for further research on process development

3D alignment for interactive evolutionary design

3D model alignment (‘Pose Normalization’ in the literature) is investigated as part of wider research into guided evolutionary Computer-Aided Design. CAD technology in development will combine human interaction and geometric optimization, within an evolutionary design system. Evolving shapes will be influenced by simple pre-set geometric fuzzy-constraints – internal voids and external bounding geometry created by users. To compare evolving candidate shapes with these pre-set constraints they must first be aligned (rotated, scaled, and co-located). A shortlist of five promising alignment techniques is described. Benchmark data generated using standard CAD functions (centre of gravity, principle axes etc.) will be presented at the conference

3D object comparison with geometric guides for Interactive Evolutionary CAD

© 2017 The authors and IOS Press. All rights reserved. 3D object comparison is presented as part of research into guided evolutionary Computer-Aided Design (CAD). CAD technology in development will combine human interaction and geometric optimization, within an existing evolutionary design system (EvoShape). Geometric Guides consist of simple 3D target objects (bounding volumes), to which evolving forms are compared. Before comparison, objects must be aligned and scaled, a process known as Pose Normalization (PN) in the literature. Both PN and object comparison have been implemented using standard geometric functions, enabling populations of evolving forms to be directed by the Geometric Guides. The algorithms and their implementation are presented alongside early results and analysis, discussion on limitations and robustness, and their suitability for Interactive Evolutionary CAD

Identifying and quantifying inefficiencies within industrial parametric CAD models

Parametric CAD software is the primary development tool for the design engineer during the product development process. However, industrial parametric CAD models are often constructed in a manner that leads to inefficiencies during subsequent product development activities. Despite the availability of Model Quality Tools (MQTs) these ‘poor’ quality models can currently only be accurately identified using time-consuming and subjective auditing from experienced users. The project aims to develop a more robust solution, using measurable part characteristics, to predict the efficiency level of these CAD files

Evolutionary form design: the application of genetic algorithmic techniques to computer-aided product design

This paper introduces the current stage of research into the development of a CAD tool that uses evolutionary techniques to assist designers in creating the form of products. A Genetic Algorithm (GA) has been combined with a commercial CAD solid modelling system. This initially enables the creation of a set of apparently random objects. These objects are then subjected to a selective breeding programme, at the hands of the user and also guided by pre-set internal, or environmental, factors. The user gives each object a score, or objective function, influencing which objects are 'fittest', and more likely to become parents of the next generation. The intention is that, through the co-operation of the user and the pre-set environmental factors, the forms on the screen progressively become more than an abstract collection of geometric primitives. On a primary level, the system can provide the inspiration for aesthetic features and characteristics of products. Further work may develop the potential for a new design methodology. The challenge will be to make the concept genuinely useful, and to do this the outcome of genetic manipulation needs to be predictable, to the extent that desirable features from objects are reproduced in the next generation of objects. The key to this is the way the genetic shape defining data is stored and processed, and is the major focus of this continuing research

Genetic algorithms in computer aided design

This paper describes progress in research into the development of a computer aided design (CAD) tool that aids designers in generating the form of a product by the use of evolutionary techniques. Genetic Algorithm (GA) software has been developed and combined with a commercial CAD solid modelling system. The system creates objects that initially have the appearance of being random in form, but which can be subjected to a user-directed selective breeding programme which is also guided by pre-set internal, or environmental, factors. User scoring of each object, or an objective function, determines which objects are considered to be the ‘fittest’, and thus likely to become parents of the next generation. Through the co-operation of the user and the pre-set environmental factors, the forms on the screen progressively become more than an abstract collection of geometric primitives. It is believed that this can provide useful inspiration with regard to the aesthetics and functional characteristics of products, and the potential exists for this approach to be the basis of a new design methodology. Early work demonstrated that the software had the ability to evolve interesting shapes in line with a user’s particular criteria for rating objects. However it was also obvious that the objects generated needed enhancement to convincingly represent some of the geometric complexities of real products. Using the CAD software’s blend function within the evolutionary process has provided that complexity, producing excellent results and greatly widening the field of application. In addition to simply creating secondary geometry through the smoothing of sharp edges or creation of curved fillets between adjoining solids, more significant and complex primary geometric forms have been generated by allowing relatively large blend radii. The current challenge is to combine the existing ability to predictably evolve simple geometric shapes, with the added complexity arising from the use of blends, to make the concept genuinely useful. The outcome of genetic manipulation needs to be predictable, to the extent that desirable features from objects are reproduced in subsequent generations. The key to this is the way the genetic shape defining data is stored and processed, especially the way the blend instructions are integrated into the existing genetic structure, and this is the major focus of continuing research

Combining additive manufacturing with computer aided consumer design

This paper reports an investigation into the potential for consumers designing and manufacturing their own products using a combination of “Computer Aided Consumer Design” (CaCODE) and Additive Manufacturing (AM). Recent developments in the field of AM (cheaper machines and new materials) have led to renewed interest in the manufacture of customised products and, more specifically, allowing consumers to create their own bespoke products. However, a persistent weak link in this paradigm is the inability of most consumers to create 3D models as an input for AM. Operating a conventional CAD system requires a lengthy period of specialist training and is therefore not viable in this context. Consequently, easy-to-use 3D design tools are needed to make AM more accessible to consumers. This research study investigated the suitability of such a system for enabling consumers to design their own pens for manufacture using AM. The investigation also explored the consumer acceptance of current AM capabilities when used for the production of consumer products. The results showed that careful attention must be paid to the specific needs of consumers, both in terms of their product preferences and their ability to use software. These will be used to guide the design of future CaCODE systems