Virtual manufacturing workcell for automated assembly, A

Includes bibliographical references (pages 12-13).This work describes the implementation of a novel robot workcell programming interface that allows an assembly designer to obtain immediate feedback regarding the manufacturability of his/her design. The interface allows the user to manipulate the three-dimensional CAD/CAM models of the components and "assemble" them into the final product. The computer then analyzes the relevant assembly operations and translates them into low-level commands for the robots in the specific workcell under consideration. This work is motivated by the complexity and time-consuming nature of manually programming flexible assembly cells for the manufacture of different products, particularly when they involve the cooperation of multiple robot manipulators

Feature-based interaction: an identification and classification methodology

Features are an established means of adding non-geometric information and extra geometric semantics to conventional computer aided design (CAD) systems. For some time it has been realized that, although feature-based modelling is necessary for the next generation of integrated design and manufacturing systems, the inherent feature interactions pose a difficulty in representing and manipulating geometric designs. This paper presents a structured geometric spatial feature interaction identification method based on a broad multilevel classification. Feature interaction definitions and classifications have been surveyed and it is evident that, although many feature interaction classifications have been proposed, there is a lack of a general framework. The classification presented here encompasses existing feature interference cases found in the literature and defines a singular framework that leads to a general classification structure. The framework is presented and applied at three different levels and each interaction case is defined by feature parameters rather than just geometric entities. The restrictions often found in other research concerning contact:non-contact and concave:convex situations are avoided. The resulting classification is easy to understand and implement because it uses simple rules based on commonly available Boolean operators. Finally, an example component is presented and the advantages, uses and applications of the classification scheme are discussed

A new knowledge sourcing framework to support knowledge-based engineering development

New trends in Knowledge-Based Engineering (KBE) highlight the need for decoupling the automation aspect from the knowledge management side of KBE. In this direction, some authors argue that KBE is capable of effectively capturing, retaining and reusing engineering knowledge. However, there are some limitations associated with some aspects of KBE that present a barrier to deliver the knowledge sourcing process requested by the industry. To overcome some of these limitations this research proposes a new methodology for efficient knowledge capture and effective management of the complete knowledge life cycle. Current knowledge capture procedures represent one of the main constraints limiting the wide use of KBE in the industry. This is due to the extraction of knowledge from experts in high cost knowledge capture sessions. To reduce the amount of time required from experts to extract relevant knowledge, this research uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques capable of generating new knowledge from company assets. Moreover the research reported here proposes the integration of AI methods and experts increasing as a result the accuracy of the predictions and the reliability of using advanced reasoning tools. The proposed knowledge sourcing framework integrates two features: (i) use of advanced data mining tools and expert knowledge to create new knowledge from raw data, (ii) adoption of a well-established and reliable methodology to systematically capture, transfer and reuse engineering knowledge. The methodology proposed in this research is validated through the development and implementation of two case studies aiming at the optimisation of wing design concepts. The results obtained in both use cases proved the extended KBE capability for fast and effective knowledge sourcing. This evidence was provided by the experts working in the development of each of the case studies through the implementation of structured quantitative and qualitative analyses

Feature-based validation reasoning for intent-driven engineering design

Feature based modelling represents the future of CAD systems. However, operations such as modelling and editing can corrupt the validity of a feature-based model representation. Feature interactions are a consequence of feature operations and the existence of a number of features in the same model. Feature interaction affects not only the solid representation of the part, but also the functional intentions embedded within features. A technique is thus required to assess the integrity of a feature-based model from various perspectives, including the functional intentional one, and this technique must take into account the problems brought about by feature interactions and operations. The understanding, reasoning and resolution of invalid feature-based models requires an understanding of the feature interaction phenomena, as well as the characterisation of these functional intentions. A system capable of such assessment is called a feature-based representation validation system. This research studies feature interaction phenomena and feature-based designer's intents as a medium to achieve a feature-based representation validation system. [Continues.

The Fifth National Technology Transfer Conference and Exposition

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