Product Function Matrix and its Request Model

A developed model of the first structural shape of the matrix of product function and its requests model have been shown in practice. It relates functions of the product and its requests model, and technical systems that solve them. Functions are described by parameters, determined by physical laws. The technical systems and functions are related among themselves through correlations that fill the field of the matrix. The correlations are determined through winning parameters. Winning parameters are determined from the set of parameters of each function that have the greatest importance and influence on a specific function. The model is implemented into a developed prototype computer system. The first structural shape of the product function matrix and its requests model for the stator of the electrical motor of the intake unit have been generated through the prototype computer system. By implementing the product function matrix and its requests model in the process of product conceptual design, it becomes possible for a designer to examine himself by comparing the possibilities of implementation of new ideas with previously built products

Supporting idea generation with design tools: nesting design heuristics within morphological analysis

As some design problems are complex, generating concepts for a complete artefact may be overwhelming for designers, especially for novices. Students often learn to use morphological analysis (MA) to decompose a problem into subcomponents, allowing them to focus on designing for more specific functions. However, generating new ideas for subcomponents remains a challenge for novices. In this study, the authors investigated an educational method combining the morphological analysis approach with a tool designed to facilitate the generation of novel, differing ideas called design heuristics (DH). The results demonstrate that adding design heuristics within morphological analysis supported students in building upon their ideas to generate concepts. These findings contribute to the knowledge about how to facilitate idea generation through supporting tools in design pedagogy and practice

CoDE: a Co-operative Design Environment. A new generation of CAD systems

According to conceptual changes on design methodology, this paper presents some research results on a new generation of CAD systems. This new software has not to be used to achieve automatic design tasks at all. On the contrary, it has to make part of an integrated design environment. A co-operative design modeller is then presented as a support for co-operative and integrated design methodology in this design environment. It mainly allows every design actors to share a unique database owing to a formal exchange network. The modeller provides a graphic interface to add, edit or modify data. Moreover the modeller manages the shared database in order to realise heavy design tasks as data propagation or data coherence management. The presented modeller takes place in the global design environment connected to specific applications based on specific design tasks (process planning, structure analysis). An informal communication network worthwhile in any design group including human actors also assists the co-operative design modeller

CoDE: a Co-operative Design Environment. A new generation of CAD systems

International audienceAccording to conceptual changes on design methodology, this paper presents some research results on a new generation of CAD systems. This new software has not to be used to achieve automatic design tasks at all. On the contrary, it has to make part of an integrated design environment.A co-operative design modeller is then presented as a support for co-operative and integrated design methodology in this design environment. It mainly allows every design actors to share a unique database owing to a formal exchange network. The modeller provides a graphic interface to add, edit or modify data. Moreover the modeller manages the shared database in order to realise heavy design tasks as data propagation or data coherence management.The presented modeller takes place in the global design environment connected to specific applications based on specific design tasks (process planning, structure analysis). An informal communication network worthwhile in any design group including human actors also assists the co-operative design modeller

DETC2003/CIE-48270 A FRAMEWORK FOR INTERNET BASED PRODUCT INFORMATION SHARING AND VISUALIZATION

ABSTRACT Internet based product information sharing and visualization is the foundation for collaborative product design and manufacturing. This paper presents a Web based framework with a STEP based product data master model and VRML based visualization techniques for visualizing and sharing product information among designers, production engineers and managers, purchasing and marketing staff, suppliers, and customers. A prototype software environment is implemented to validate the proposed framework and related technologies

CoDE: a Co-operative Design Environment. A new generation of CAD systems

According to conceptual changes on design methodology, this paper presents some research results on a new generation of CAD systems. This new software has not to be used to achieve automatic design tasks at all. On the contrary, it has to make part of an integrated design environment. A co-operative design modeller is then presented as a support for co-operative and integrated design methodology in this design environment. It mainly allows every design actors to share a unique database owing to a formal exchange network. The modeller provides a graphic interface to add, edit or modify data. Moreover the modeller manages the shared database in order to realise heavy design tasks as data propagation or data coherence management. The presented modeller takes place in the global design environment connected to specific applications based on specific design tasks (process planning, structure analysis). An informal communication network worthwhile in any design group including human actors also assists the co-operative design modeller

Incorporating Function Structures into Morphological Charts: A User Study

A morphological chart is an ideation tool that represents a large qualitative design space. Currently, morphological charts use a function list to as the function representation of the design problem. Using the morphological chart means (solutions) that can perform each function are generated. Combining one means from each function produces an integrated conceptual design solution. By repeating this process with all possible combination contained in the morphological chart, a long list of conceptual design solutions will be generated, although not all will be practical. This long list of potential design solutions is difficult to analyze and there are limited systematic design tools or guidelines to aid in identifying high quality solutions. A systematic study of the introduction of a new function representation, function structures, into morphological charts is explored in this thesis with the intent of developing guidelines which will aid designers in identifying high quality concepts. An experiment is conducted to determine the quality of design concepts generated from morphological charts using two different function representations (function lists and function structures). The findings from this experiment suggest that the quality of means generated in a morphological chart is not dependent on the function representation but that the potential for creating higher quality concepts when using function structures exists

Development of an adaptable model for distributed collaborative computer aided design

Master'sMASTER OF ENGINEERIN

Concept Generation Using Morphological And Options Matrices

The use of morphological matrices as a tool to aid concept generation is examined. Two limitations of the method are highlighted; (1) the large number of potential combinatorial possibilities and (2) the lack of design details in the system concepts generated. An Integrated Idea Generation (IIG) method is proposed to support the generation of detailed system concepts effectively without performing a full factorial combination of the means within a morphological matrix. Pairwise functional combinations are extracted from the functions listed in the morphological matrix and explored in detail using options matrices and innovation challenges, encouraging designers to identify implicit assumptions and foster innovative designs. Pairwise combinations are used to generate sub-system concepts systematically and subsequently integrated to form system level conceptual ideas. The resulting concepts have greater design detail compared to concepts generated through the traditional morphological matrix method and increases confidence in the designer\u27s assessment of the feasibility of the generated concepts. The IIG method is applied in industry to develop a seat mechanism for an automotive application with an industry sponsor. Based on the initial feedback received from industry regarding the method, the results of testing conducted through user studies (2) and interviews (6), and experience using the method, the potential advantages of the IIG method and the challenges associated with the method are provided. Despite the challenges identified, the IIG method is a useful method to help novice and experienced designers develop good quality concepts effectively