Commercial-off-the-shelf simulation package interoperability: Issues and futures

Commercial-Off-The-Shelf Simulation Packages (CSPs) are widely used in industry to simulate discrete-event models. Interoperability of CSPs requires the use of distributed simulation techniques. Literature presents us with many examples of achieving CSP interoperability using bespoke solutions. However, for the wider adoption of CSP-based distributed simulation it is essential that, first and foremost, a standard for CSP interoperability be created, and secondly, these standards are adhered to by the CSP vendors. This advanced tutorial is on an emerging standard relating to CSP interoperability. It gives an overview of this standard and presents case studies that implement some of the proposed standards. Furthermore, interoperability is discussed in relation to large and complex models developed using CSPs that require large amount of computing resources. It is hoped that this tutorial will inform the simulation community of the issues associated with CSP interoperability, the importance of these standards and its future

An approach to design knowledge capture for the space station

The design of NASA's space station has begun. During the design cycle, and after activation of the space station, the reoccurring need will exist to access not only designs, but also deeper knowledge about the designs, which is only hinted in the design definition. Areas benefiting from this knowledge include training, fault management, and onboard automation. NASA's Artificial Intelligence Office at Johnson Space Center and The MITRE Corporation have conceptualized an approach for capture and storage of design knowledge

Shipping Configuration Optimization with Topology-Based Guided Local Search for Irregular Shaped Shipments

Manufacturer that uses containers to ship products always works to optimize the space inside the containers. Container loading problems (CLP) are widely encountered in forms of raw material flow and handling, product shipments, warehouse management, facility floor planning, as well as strip-packing nesting problems.Investigations and research conducted two decades ago were logistic orientated, on the basis of the empirical approaches

SelfPaint-A self-programming paint booth

In this paper we present a unique Fraunhofer approach that aims towards a vision to automate the product preparation in paint shops by automatically generating robot paths and process conditions that guarantee a certain wanted paint coverage. This will be accomplished through a combination of state-of-the-art simulation technology, inline quality control by novel terahertz thickness measurement technology, and surface treatment technology. The benefits of the approach are a shortened product preparation time, increased quality and reduced material and energy consumption. The painting of a tractor fender is used to demonstrate the approach

Illinois Technograph v. 079, iss. 6 Mar. 1964

published or submitted for publicatio

Tractor PT: A traction prediction software for agricultural tractor

Traction prediction modelling, a key factor in farm tractor design, has been driven by the need to find the answer to this question without having to build physical prototypes. A wide range of theories and their respective algorithms can be used in such predictions. The “Tractors and Tillage” research team at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, which engages, among others, in traction prediction for farm tractors, has developed a series of programs based on the cone index as the parameter representative of the terrain. With the software introduced in the present paper, written in Visual Basic, slip can be predicted in two- and four-wheel drive tractors using any one of four models. It includes databases for tractors, front tyres, rear tyres and working conditions (soil cone index and drawbar pull exerted). The results can be exported in spreadsheet format

Optimal bucking hardwood species in Central Appalachia

An optimal tree-stem bucking system was developed for central Appalachian hardwood species using 3D modeling techniques. ActiveX Data Objects were implemented via MS Visual C++/OpenGL to manipulate tree data which were supported by a backend relational data model with five data tables for stems, grades and prices, logs, defects and stem shapes. Network analysis was employed to achieve the optimal bucking solution with four different alternative stage intervals under bucking by value principle. Once all the data associated with a tree were retrieved, a 3-D tree stem could be displayed for either optimal or manual bucking based on the user\u27s option. Doyle and International 1/8 log rules were used to compute the log volumes during the bucking processes. Compared to manual bucking, total log value and volume gain from each tree-stem by using this computer bucking system could be increased averagely by 31.39% to 37.69% and 16.03% to 16.60%. Also, by computer optimal bucking, tree-stem utilization rate was increased by 10.11% to 11.23% compared to manual bucking results. The system execution time increased by 13, 108, and 1702 times while bucking stage interval changed from 4-foot, to 1-foot, 4-inch, and 1-inch. The optimal bucking system developed can be used as a training tool on desktop PCs and can also be installed on field PCs to aid field buckers

Datavis : a research work in data management toolkit

With increasing popularity of interactive data analysis, simulations and visualization, there is a need for flexibility in the development and use of data management toolkits. Although some work has done by the researchers, a solid foundation is not yet established. This thesis introduces Datavis, a flexible, extensible data management toolkit that integrates simulation systems into data visualization systems. Datavis links together standard numerical simulation tools such as EASY5 [Bl] with visualization packages like GGobi making the data flow among these different tools transparent to the user. Datavis allows users to perform data analysis interactively independent of the data format or the packages needed in the process. Datavis has three main components: The core that handles the user requests, the data handler which takes care of the organization and storage of the data, and the visualization handler which takes care of the instantiation and manipulation of the visualization system. The proposed toolkit has been successfully implemented and transferred to use as part of routine data analysis activities at a company. At the same time, the work on Datavis has laid the foundation for more sophisticated approaches on integrating simulation and visualization for data analysis

Process capability modelling: a review report of feature representation methodologies

Approximately 150 technical papers on the features methodology have been carefully studied and some selected papers have been commented upon. The abstracts of the comments are documented and attached to this report. The methodologies reviewed are mainly divided into two approaches, ie. feature recognition and design by features. Papers which deal with some specific topics such as feature taxonomies, dimensions and tolerances, feature concepts, etc. are also included in the document