Simulation-based machine shop operations scheduling system for energy cost reduction

Owing to the ever increasing requirements in sustainability, manufacturing firms are trying to reduce their energy consumption and cost. In this paper, we propose a simulation-based machine shop operations scheduling system for minimizing the energy cost without sacrificing the productivity. The proposed system consists of two major functions: (1) real-time energy consumption monitoring (through power meters, a database server, and mobile applications) and (2) simulation-based machine shop operations scheduling (through a machine shop operations simulator). First, the real-time energy consumption monitoring function is developed to collect energy consumption data and provide real-time energy consumption status monitoring/electrical load abnormality warnings. Second, the simulation-based machine shop operations scheduling function is devised to estimate the energy consumptions and cost of CNC machines. In addition, an additive regression algorithm is developed to formulate energy consumption models for each individual machine as simulation inputs. The proposed system is implemented at a manufacturing company located in Tucson, Arizona state of USA. The experiment results reveal the effectiveness of the proposed system in achieving energy cost savings without sacrificing the productivity under various scenarios of machine shop operations.     

Simulation-based fully Bayesian experimental design for mixed effects models

Bayesian inference has commonly been performed on nonlinear mixed effects models. However, there is a lack of research into performing Bayesian optimal design for nonlinear mixed effects models, especially those that require searches to be performed over several design variables. This is likely due to the fact that it is much more computationally intensive to perform optimal experimental design for nonlinear mixed effects models than it is to perform inference in the Bayesian framework. Fully Bayesian experimental designs for nonlinear mixed effects models are presented, which involve the use of simulation-based optimal design methods to search over both continuous and discrete design spaces. The design problem is to determine the optimal number of subjects and samples per subject, as well as the (near) optimal urine sampling times for a population pharmacokinetic study in horses, so that the population pharmacokinetic parameters can be precisely estimated, subject to cost constraints. The optimal sampling strategies, in terms of the number of subjects and the number of samples per subject, were found to be substantially different between the examples considered in this work, which highlights the fact that the designs are rather problem-dependent and can be addressed using the methods presented.     

Platform-based design and software design methodology for embeddedsystems

Embedded products have become so complex and must be developed so quickly that current design methodologies are no longer adequate. The authors' vision for the future of embedded-system design involves two essential components: a rigorous methodology for embedded software development and platform-based design     

A design methodology for data-parallel applications

A methodology for the design and development of data-parallel applications and components is presented. Data-parallelism is a well understood form of parallel computation, yet developing simple applications can involve substantial efforts to express the problem in low level notations. We describe a process of software development for data-parallel applications starting from high level specifications, generating repeated refinements of designs to match different architectural models and performance constraints, enabling a development activity with cost benefit analysis. Primary issues are algorithm choice, correctness, and efficiency, followed by data decomposition, load balancing, and message passing coordination. Development of a data-parallel multitarget tracking application is used as a case study, showing the progression from high to low level refinements. We conclude by describing tool support for the process     

A methodology for evolutionary product design

this paper describes a function-based approach for conceptual design support in the context of evolutionary product development. The main objective is to improve a designers productivity by the effective reuse of existing design information in design alternative identification, evaluation, and modification. An integrated evolutionary design methodology, EPD, is presented. The proposed methodology divides the whole process into three inter-related phases: information recovery, information management, and information reuse. The detailed steps in each phase are elaborated, and various techniques are employed to improve information reuse efficiency. A case study on commercial electrostatic air cleaner was used to illustrate the whole process of product evolutionary design. The proposed methodology will have a positive impact on the future development of the conceptual design support system.     

An integrated methodology for fixture design

In this paper, a methodology to perform fixture design as an integrated aspect of process planning is proposed. A three-phase methodology for the fixture design activity has been developed. The three phases include predesign analysis (phase I), functional analysis (phase II), and productivity improvement (phase III). In phase I, the product design information is studied, and initial fixture design aspects are developed. In phase II, the clamping and location aspects of fixture design are addressed for the given initial process sequence and product design information. Phase III involves studying ways to increase the productivity including using simultaneous machining approaches, multiclustering, use of specialized jigs, etc.     

An evaluation methodology for crowdsourced design

In recent years, the “power of the crowd” has been repeatedly demonstrated and various Internet platforms have been used to support applications of collaborative intelligence in tasks ranging from open innovation to image analysis. However, crowdsourcing applications in the fields of design research and creative innovation have been much slower to emerge. So, although there have been reports of systems and researchers using Internet crowdsourcing to carry out generative design, there are still many gaps in knowledge about the capability and limitations of the technology. Indeed the process models developed to support traditional commercial design (e.g. Pugh’s Total Design, Agile, Double-Diamond etc.) have yet to be established for Crowdsourced Design (cDesign). As a contribution to the development of such a general model this paper proposes a cDesign framework to support the creation of crowdsourced design activities. Within the cDesign framework the effective evaluation of design quality is identified as a key component that not only enables the leveraging of a large, virtual workforce’s creative activities but is also fundamental to almost all iterative optimisation processes. This paper reports an experimental investigation into two different Crowdsourced design evaluation approaches; free evaluation and ‘Crowdsourced Design Evaluation Criteria’ (cDEC). The results are benchmarked against a ‘manual’ evaluation carried out by a panel of experienced designers. The results suggest that the cDEC approach produces design rankings that correlate strongly with the judgements of an “expert panel”. The paper concludes that cDEC assessment methodology demonstrates how Crowdsourcing can be effectively used to evaluate, as well as generate, new design solutions.     

Needs identification methodology for inclusive design

Identification of user needs is an essential phase in the early stages of every design project. Many needs identification methodologies are described in the literature. When targeting users with special needs, the task becomes more challenging for different reasons (difficulty of retrieving information, performing prototype testing, etc.). This article presents a novel methodology, Needs Identification Methodology for Inclusive Design (NIMID), that guides the process of needs identification in the inclusive design scenario considering users’ physical, sensorial and cognitive capabilities. NIMID is grounded in Abowd and Beale's human–computer interaction framework and uses WHO's International Classification of Functionalities as the taxonomy that provides a common language. We exemplify the application of the methodology in the design of a smart oven for elderly people. We also compare NIMID with other methodologies evidencing its strong points: universality (common international classification of functioning language), systematicity (clearly defined phases and outcomes) and rationality (grounded in well-established interaction theory).     

A motion control algorithm for a continuous mining machine based on a hierarchical Real-time Control System design methodology

The drive toward increased safety for coal miners has led to the development of computer-assisted methods of underground coal mining. The development of control architectures for the control of the movement of continuous mining machines (tramming control) is an important part of this overall effort. The tramming control algorithm design described is in concert with hierarchical architecture design principles developed at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), referred to as the Real-time Control Systems (RCS) methodology. The algorithm design allows for the control of both cutting and free-space movement by a continuous mining machine and allows for a high degree of human operator interaction.This work is sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Mines under Interagency Agreement (J0189027).     

Data base design methodology for structural analysis and design optimization

A methodology to design data bases for finite element analysis and structural design optimization is described. The methodology considers three views of data organization-conceptual, internal, and external. Tabular and matrix forms of data are included. The relational data model is used in the data base design. Entity, relation, and attributes are considered to form a conceptual view of data. First, second, and third normal forms of data are suggested to design an internal model. Several aspects such as processing, iterative needs, multiple views of data, efficiency of storage and access time, and transitive data are considered in the methodology.     

A design methodology for PC-expansion card development

The development of PC-expansion cards has been an on-going process for which there are no existing formal methodologies. As newer buses emerge, the complexity of the hardware and software design increases. This paper aims to provide an integrated understanding of the hardware and software aspects involved in the development of expansion cards. A design architecture has been designed to guide such developments by encapsulating all the pertinent design factors into a layered model, known as the Adapter Development Model. The focus is on mitigation of the process complications, which have proven its prowess in disabling the successful completion of such projects that are subjected to manpower and time constraints. Concentration is placed on the PCI platform and an applicability example based on MPEG2 PCI design is considered.     

Human-centered design for advanced services: A multidimensional design methodology

Advanced services have caught the attention of industries and academics as a way to exploit new customer value propositions. However, the existing design methodologies for advanced services are limited to partially addressing one or some key design elements, hence causing confusion in practice. Moreover, human factors are not often addressed, even though the design for advanced services requires human-centered thinking. Aiming to advance the body of research, the current study aims to conceptually propose a multidimensional design methodology called DIMAND that captures the key design elements and their relations in a single-view structure in accordance with a human-centric approach. Specifically, DIMAND encapsulates the (i) life-cycle service design interrelated with other key design elements—(ii) stakeholder networks, (iii) new service development methods, and (iv) design skills—that must be considered to develop effective advanced service design. Based on a hybrid research design, DIMAND was conceptually developed through systematic reviews and structured analysis of existing design methodologies, as well as an elicitation of expert knowledge in the domain through the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). For validation, the average usability score of DIMAND as evaluated by 26 practitioners was 72.2, which falls into “excellence” on the simplified system usability scale (SUS), hence confirming its potential utility. As a result, DIMAND offers a novel and holistic guideline for design practitioners and engineers to obtain coherence in all the life-cycle design processes by simultaneously taking these key design elements and their relations into account, making the design of advanced services more practical.     

A design methodology for fuzzy system interfaces

Conceptually, a fuzzy system interacting with a numerical environment has three components: a numeric/linguistic interface, a linguistic processing unit, and a linguistic/numeric interface. At these interfaces, membership functions representing linguistic terms play a top role both for the linguistic meaning provided and for the pre/post information processing introduced to the fuzzy system. Considering these issues, a set of membership function properties is postulated. Furthermore, an expert-free interface design methodology able to meet these properties, and based on the concept of optimal interfaces, is proposed. This concept simply states an equivalence between information format (numeric and linguistic), thereby making the methodology appealing from the applicational point of view. An algorithm is developed, and brief notes on selected applications are outlined stressing relevant issues of the proposed methodology     

A design methodology for verified web-service mediators

A new web service can be built by combining existing web services and coordinating their actions by a ‘mediator’. This work presents a formal design methodology based on model checking that generates all the mediator designs that meet requirements specified by a user. The methodology allows the user to explore the designs in search of the mediator that offers the best theoretical performance. Markov models of various measures of performance are considered. Each measure may result in a different ranking of the mediator designs (from best to worst for example). From these rankings the user can select the design that at least theoretically best fits the purpose. The novelty of this work is the use of model checking and Markov analysis in a single formal framework to generate, explore, and select from a set of provably-correct mediators—while still in the design stage of development.     

An assertion-based verification methodology for system-level design

In this paper, we integrate an assertion-based verification methodology with our object-oriented system-level synthesis methodology to address the problem of HW/SW co-verification. In this direction a system-level assertion language is defined. The system-level assertions can be used to monitor the current state of system or flow of transactions. These assertions are automatically converted to “monitor hardware” or “monitor software” during the system-level synthesis process depending on their type and also synthesis style of their corresponding functions. The synthesized assertions are functionally equivalent to their original system-level assertions, and hence, can be reused to verify the system after HW/SW synthesis and also at run-time after system manufacturing. This way, not only system-level assertions are reused in lower-levels of abstraction, but also run-time verification of system is provided. In this paper, we describe the system-level assertion language and explain the corresponding synthesis method in our object-oriented system-level synthesis methodology; however the concept can be applied to any system-level design methodology with modifications to assertion types and synthesis method.     

基于仿真技术的调节阀选型教学软件的设计

以调节阀选型的教学为目的,深入研究了多种调节阀的结构特点及其输入输出特性,对调节阀的选型步骤和选型方法进行了软件实现,并对其动态特性进行了仿真分析。在Visual Studio2008环境中使用C++编程,实现了调节阀的选型、流量系数的计算、输入输出特性的仿真分析及故障情况下流出特性的仿真分析等功能。     

Holistic methodology using computer simulation for optimisation of machine tools

Virtual machine concepts supporting optimisation of machine tools have been developed in earlier work. The virtual machine concept is a tool that can describe the behaviour of a machine tool while considering the interaction between mechanics of the machines and the control system. Considerable amount of work has been done proving the concept and showing the potential of such a design tool in different contexts. Several studies have shown the potential of using the virtual machine concept, although, no work has been found that is exploring the potential of a full optimisation study.