Continuous Surface Rendering, Passing from CAD to Physical Representation

This paper describes a desktop‐mechatronic interface that has been conceived to support designers in the evaluation of aesthetic virtual shapes. This device allows a continuous and smooth free hand contact interaction on a real and developable plastic tape actuated by a servo‐controlled mechanism. The objective in designing this device is to reproduce a virtual surface with a consistent physical rendering well adapted to designers' needs. The desktop‐mechatronic interface consists in a servo‐actuated plastic strip that has been devised and implemented using seven interpolation points. In fact, by using the MEC (Minimal Energy Curve) Spline approach, a developable real surface is rendered taking into account the CAD geometry of the virtual shapes. In this paper, we describe the working principles of the interface by using both absolute and relative approaches to control the position on each single control point on the MEC spline. Then, we describe the methodology that has been implemented, passing from the CAD geometry, linked to VisualNastran in order to maintain the parametric properties of the virtual shape. Then, we present the co‐ simulation between VisualNastran and MATLAB/Simulink used for achieving this goal and controlling the system and finally, we present the results of the subsequent testing session specifically carried out to evaluate the accuracy and the effectiveness of the mechatronic device

KINEMATICS OF SPRINTING: COMPARISON BETWEEN NORMAL AND AMPUTEES ATHLETES

The paper introduces the initial activities of a project related to the kinetic analysis of amputees athletes running by means of dedicated orthopaedic prostheses. In this first session it has been analysed the kinematics of four athletes sample, three normal (the first a high-level pro, the second a junior and the third an amateur) and one unilateral below-knee paralympic amputee. Research objective is to analyse the kinematics of the amputee athlete and the differences in respect of normal athletes. It has to be considered that each normal athlete has its own way of running which depends on his anthropometrical parameters and on its motion strategy: an ideal biomechanics of running, which is a reference to optimise the performance of athlete, doesn't exist. First of all it has been described the running biomechanical phases of normal athletes and the structural components of a sprinting prosthesis; then the system to analyse human movement and finally the adopted protocol for acquisition. The kinematical parameters and the motion strategy adopted by amputee are different in comparison to normal athletes: it has been analysed the anthropometrical parameters, the time-space parameters and pelvis, hip, knee and ankle angles. The collected data will be applied to the design process of running prosthesis in the socket manufacturing and in the alignment of prosthetic components to optimise the performance of the athlete

Merging digital and physical-based design

Product designers are more and more addressing the design of product experience, in addition to the more traditional product design, where the focus of the design practice is on the interaction between the product and its users. Traditional methods and tools used so far for the design of products are not suitable to the design of experience. Among the emerging methods, experience prototyping seems effective and well addressing the new requirements of experience design. The paper describes the emerging technologies enabling experience prototyping, and provides some examples where this new methodology for experience design has been applied

Representing and sharing knowledge in PLM systems design

The main aim of this paper is to contribute in leveraging the rate of success of BPR in a Virtual Enterprise environment by proposing a framework supporting PLM system designers in selecting the best communication tool to be used in reengineering. The aim of the framework is to enhance interoperability between users, process owners and knowledge experts in design, by proposing a set of guidelines for the use of process modelling languages when dealing with the definition of PLM system specifications. This work has been conducted within the EU 6th Framework Programme VIVACE Project (Value Improvement through a Virtual Aeronautical Collaborative Enterprise) with the purpose to support the design and implementation of a Knowledge Enabled Engineering system able to improve product development process performances by leveraging past design experience.Godkänd; 2008; 20080507 (berber

3D design and simulation of men garments

This paper outlines a 3D graphic environment to design and simulate men garments according to fabric properties. The aim is to permit the design in 3D of men base garments, in particular jackets, together with evaluation of their styles and automatic generation of 2D patterns from the 3D representation. 3D garment design has been based on the use of MAYAÔ (Alias/Wavefront) Deformers, while simulation relies on particle-based approach. Main modules of the system are described as well as methodologies and techniques adopted. The prototype has been experimented by end-user; results and final considerations are reported