GOALI: A Hybrid Method to Support Natural Interaction of Parts in a Virtual Environment

The overall goal of this research is to improve the design of assembly methods through the use of virtual reality (VR) and haptics (force feedback). The research is focused on two critical aspects: the development of methods for simulating natural part-to-part interaction to support the human-centric approach to concurrent design and the evaluation of these methods in a manufacturing design context. As part of the research, we have developed the SPARTA software platform, explored new VR interaction methods and conducted several site visits at Deere facilities to better understand their processes and operations. This paper summarizes the efforts and results to date

Automatic generation of computer models through the integration of production systems design software tools

The design of production and logistic systems is a process of managing both technical and organizational variants in order to identify the best solution for a given system. This is a very well-known industrial engineering issue, where the objectives for designing such a system have been changing over the last decades. Former approaches were concerned about material handling costs only but more recent works include re-layout and product mix costs, together with a great concern on processes – high service levels, optimal scheduling policies, setup times and costs, etc. Nowadays, the rapid technological progress and the associated competitive problems lead to a great need of fast and successful solutions to deal with continuous change (re-design) of the currently used industrial systems. Flexibility, modularity, efficiency and robustness are generally highly desired system properties. For general design of industrial systems, three basic types of software tools are used: Computer Aided Design, Simulation and Information Systems. These tools help on improving the utilization of system resources like equipment, manpower, materials, space, energy, information, etc. Nevertheless these three types of software tools have been used with low levels of integration. This absence of an adequate data connection and integration of outputs cause time delays in the design process, duplication of work and could also be a source of errors. In this work, Production Systems Design software tools integration possibilities are discussed and a unified system architecture solution, implemented on AutoCAD (layout design), Witness (Simulation) and MS-Access (Information Systems) is presented. The aim is to focus on the need of data coherence between different software tools, exploring ways of dealing with data diversity and assuring valid and efficient solutions. MS-Access supports the specification of the system and data exchange between Witness and AutoCAD. Based on the database specification, our application automatically generates simulation programs and also different spatial patterns of project layouts. These tasks are implemented in Visual Basic code. Iteratively the results from the simulations are used to improve AutoCAD layouts and AutoCAD layouts are used in new simulations. The use of our application, in the examples showed in this paper, proved to get quick, valid and efficient solutions.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologi

The Habitat Demonstration Unit System Integration

The Lunar Surface System Habitat Demonstration Unit (HDU) will require a project team to integrate a variety of contributions from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) centers and potential outside collaborators and poses a challenge in integrating these disparate efforts into a cohesive architecture. To accomplish the development of the first version of the HDU, the Pressurized Excursion Module (PEM), from conception in June 2009 to rollout for operations in July 2010, the HDU project team is using several strategies to mitigate risks and bring the separate efforts together. First, a set of design standards is being developed to define the interfaces between the various systems of PEM and to the payloads, such as the Geology Laboratory, that those systems will support. Scheduled activities such as early fit-checks and the utilization of a habitat avionics test bed prior to equipment installation into HDU PEM are planned to facilitate the integration process. A coordinated effort to establish simplified Computer Aided Design (CAD) standards and the utilization of a modeling and simulation systems will aid in design and integration concept development. Finally, decision processes on the shell development including the assembly sequence and the transportation have been fleshed out early on HDU design to maximize the efficiency of both integration and field operations

Automatic synthesis of analog layout : a survey

A review of recent research in the automatic synthesis of physical geometry for analog integrated circuits is presented. On introduction, an explanation of the difficulties involved in analog layout as opposed to digital layout is covered. Review of the literature then follows. Emphasis is placed on the exposition of general methods for addressing problems specific to analog layout, with the details of specific systems only being given when they surve to illustrate these methods well. The conclusion discusses problems remaining and offers a prediction as to how technology will evolve to solve them. It is argued that although progress has been and will continue to be made in the automation of analog IC layout, due to fundamental differences in the nature of analog IC design as opposed to digital design, it should not be expected that the level of automation of the former will reach that of the latter any time soon

Concept of Operations Visualization for Ares I Production

Establishing Computer Aided Design models of the Ares I production facility, tooling and vehicle components and integrating them into manufacturing visualizations/simulations allows Boeing and NASA to collaborate real time early in the design/development cycle. This collaboration identifies cost effective and lean solutions that can be easily shared with Ares stakeholders (e.g., other NASA Centers and potential science users). These Ares I production visualizations and analyses by their nature serve as early manufacturing improvement precursors for other Constellation elements to be built at the Michoud Assembly Facility such as Ares V and the Altair Lander. Key to this Boeing and Marshall Space Flight Center collaboration has been the use of advanced virtual manufacturing tools to understand the existing Shuttle era infrastructure and trade potential modifications to support Ares I production. These approaches are then used to determine an optimal manufacturing configuration in terms of labor efficiency, safety and facility enhancements. These same models and tools can be used in an interactive simulation of Ares I and V flight to the Space Station or moon to educate the human space constituency (e.g., government, academia, media and the public) in order to increase national and international understanding of Constellation goals and benefits

The cyber-physical e-machine manufacturing system : virtual engineering for complete lifecycle support

Electric machines (e-machines) will form a fundamental part of the powertrain of the future. Automotive manufacturers are keen to develop emachine manufacturing and assembly knowledge in-house. An on-going project, which aims to deliver an e-machine pilot assembly line, is being supported by a set of virtual engineering tools developed by the Automation Systems Group at the University of Warwick. Although digital models are a useful design aid providing visualization and simulation, the opportunity being exploited in this research paper is to have a common model throughout the lifecycle of both the manufacturing system and the product. The vision is to have a digital twin that is consistent with the real system and not just used in the early design and deployment phases. This concept, commonly referred to as Cyber Physical Systems (CPS), is key to realizing efficient system reconfigurability to support alternative product volumes and mixes. These tools produce modular digital models that can be rapidly modified preventing the simulation, test, and modification processes forming a bottleneck to the development lifecycles. In addition, they add value at more mature phases when, for example, a high volume line based on the pilot is created as the same models can be reused and modified as required. This research paper therefore demonstrates how the application of the virtual engineering tools support the development of a CPS using an e-machine assembly station as a case study. The main contribution of the work is to further validate the CPS philosophy by extending the concept into practical applications in pilot production systems with prototype products

A virtual prototyping system for simulating construction processes

2006-2007 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptPublishe

A virtual environment to support the distributed design of large made-to-order products

An overview of a virtual design environment (virtual platform) developed as part of the European Commission funded VRShips-ROPAX (VRS) project is presented. The main objectives for the development of the virtual platform are described, followed by the discussion of the techniques chosen to address the objectives, and finally a description of a use-case for the platform. Whilst the focus of the VRS virtual platform was to facilitate the design of ROPAX (roll-on passengers and cargo) vessels, the components within the platform are entirely generic and may be applied to the distributed design of any type of vessel, or other complex made-to-order products