Using evolutionary design to interactively sketch car silhouettes and stimulate designer's creativity

An Interactive Genetic Algorithm is proposed to progressively sketch the desired side-view of a car profile. It adopts a Fourier decomposition of a 2D profile as the genotype, and proposes a cross-over mechanism. In addition, a formula function of two genes' discrepancies is fitted to the perceived dissimilarity between two car profiles. This similarity index is intensively used, throughout a series of user tests, to highlight the added value of the IGA compared to a systematic car shape exploration, to prove its ability to create superior satisfactory designs and to stimulate designer's creativity. These tests have involved six designers with a design goal defined by a semantic attribute. The results reveal that if "friendly" is diversely interpreted in terms of car shapes, "sportive" denotes a very conventional representation which may be a limitation for shape renewal

Gene expression of inflammasome components in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of vascular patients increases with age

Background: Chronic low-grade inflammation is considered a driver of many age-related disorders, including vascular diseases (inflammaging). Inhibition of autophagic capacity with ageing was postulated to generate a pro-inflammatory condition via activation of inflammasomes, a group of Interleukin-1 activating intracellular multi-protein complexes. We thus investigated gene expression of inflammasome components in PBMC of 77 vascular patients (age 22–82) in association with age. Findings: Linear regression of real-time qRT-PCR data revealed a significant positive association of gene expression of each of the inflammasome components with age (Pearson correlation coefficients: AIM2: r = 0.245; P = 0.032; NLRP3: r = 0.367; P = 0.001; ASC (PYCARD): r = 0.252; P = 0.027; CASP1: r = 0.296; P = 0.009; CASP5: r = 0.453; P = 0.00003; IL1B: r = 0.247; P = 0.030). No difference in gene expression of AIM2, NLRP3, ASC CASP1, and CASP5 was detected between PBMC of patients with advanced atherosclerosis and other vascular patients, whereas IL1B expression was increased in PBMC of the latter group (P = 0.0005). Conclusion: The findings reinforce the systemic pro-inflammatory phenotype reported in elderly by demonstrating an increased phase-1 activation of inflammasomes in PBMC of vascular patients

A reduced basis Kalman filter for parametrized partial differential equations

The Kalman filter is a widely known tool in control theory for estimating the state of a linear system disturbed by noise. However, when applying the Kalman filter on systems described by parametrerized partial differential equations (PPDEs) the calculation of state estimates can take an excessive amount of time and real-time state estimation may be infeasible. In this work we derive a low dimensional representation of a parameter dependent Kalman filter for PPDEs via the reduced basis method. Thereby rapid state estimation, and in particular the rapid estimation of a linear output of interest, will be feasible. We will also derive a posteriori error bounds for evaluating the quality of the output estimations. Furthermore we will show how to verify the stability of the filter using an observability condition. We will demonstrate the performance of the reduced order Kalman filter and the error bounds with a numerical example modeling the heat transfer in a plate

La conception génétique des silhouettes de voitures

National audienceUn nouveau système d'aide au design de silhouettes d'artefacts est proposé. Il s'agit d'un Algorithme Génétique Interactif-AGI-qui permet d'explorer de grands espaces de solutions potentielles de silhouettes en impliquant le designer à l'étape cruciale d'évaluation d'une population d'individus. Notre AGI est basé sur un système de codage génétique d'une courbe fermée par décomposition en série de Fourier. Un opérateur de croisement génétique est proposé pour combiner le génome de deux silhouettes parents en un nouveau génome viable par un principe de moyenne pondérée. Un indice de similarité entre deux génomes est proposé pour vérifier que notre AGI est capable de converger vers une silhouette cible qu'un designer pourrait avoir en tête. Il s'agit d'une approche prometteuse qui pourrait générer de la surprise et aider à la production d'idées innovantes. L'approche a été appliquée au design de profils de voitures

Indirect Encoding of the Genes of a Closed Curve for interactively create innovative car Silhouettes

International audienceAn Interactive Genetic Algorithm system is proposed for designing a car silhouette while involving the style designer in the evaluation process of a population of individuals. This IGA is based on the principle of an indirect encoding of a closed curve genome using a primary Fourier decomposition. A crossing over operator is proposed for mixing the parents' genes by a random weighted average into a new child's genome. A perceived similarity index between two genomes is built. It allows to check that our IGA is able to converge toward a targeted individual which was not present within the initial population and, consequently, that any silhouette in a style designer's mind could be revealed by our system

Evolutive design of car silhouettes using an interactive genetic algorithm

So as to create innovative car silhouettes, we propose in this technical report a model based on an Interactive Genetic Algorithm using an encoding of a design solution by a Fourier analysis approach. This model permits the designer to browse through generations of car profiles from an initial population of existing silhouettes. By qualitatively assessing each individual, the user converge towards solutions complying with his/her requirements and so potentially create novelty. We describe here tests for assessing the efficiency of this innovative design platform. These tests are based on a similarity matrix, a similarity measure being the perceived distance between two cars silhouettes. The results show a really satisfactory behavior of the model and open perspectives thanks to its flexible and extensible aspects

Evolutionary and interactive sketching tool for innovative car shape design

International audienceSo as to create innovative car silhouettes, we propose in this paper a model based on an Interactive Genetic Algorithm using an encoding of a design solution by a Fourier analysis approach. This model permits the designer to browse through generations of car profiles from an initial population of existing silhouettes. By qualitatively assessing each individual, the designer converge towards solutions complying with his/her requirements and preferences, possibly creating novelty and generating surprise. We describe here tests for assessing the efficiency of this innovative design platform. These tests are mainly based on a similarity index, a similarity measure being the perceived distance between two cars silhouettes. The results highlight a good convergence toward a satisfactory solution. In addition, this design process turns out to be very flexible because of the local and intuitive modifications allowed on a given individual solution at any moment of the design process