Development of a rapid prototyping design advice system

This paper describes the initial development of a computer based Rapid Prototyping Design Advice System. The system is intended to assist the designer or project manager, particularly those in small and medium sized companies, in planning the prototyping stage of product development. It provides the user with an efficient and user friendly development aid which uses information obtained from the user and Computer Aided Design data to recommend suitable rapid prototyping solutions.     

面向不精确与非量值信息的定性数字样机

为了解决定量仿真不能很好利用系统中的不精确和非量值信息的问题,将Kuipers定性仿真理论与数字样机技术相结合,使数字样机能够使用定性与定量信息.提出了定性数字样机的概念,并以四元组形式对定性数字样机进行定义,建立定性数字样机的概念框架.根据定性数字样机特性选择Prolog语言和面向对象的知识表示方法,对定性数字样机系统的知识描述及系统框架的建立进行了阐述.建立了定性数字样机的知识结构表示框架与结构模型,通过定性仿真的步骤与方法,对定性数字样机进行了仿真验证,通过实例说明了使用定性数字样机进行系统仿真的可行性.     

From early virtual garment simulation to interactive fashion design

Virtual garment design and simulation involves a combination of a large range of techniques, involving mechanical simulation, collision detection, and user interface techniques for creating garments. Here, we perform an extensive review of the evolution of these techniques made in the last decade to bring virtual garments to the reach of computer applications not only aimed at graphics, but also at CAD techniques for the garment industry.As a result of the advances in the developments of virtual garment simulation technologies, we then detail a framework which fits the needs of the garment industry of virtual garment design and prototyping, concentrating on interactive design, simulation and visualization features. The framework integrates innovative tools aimed towards efficiency and quality in the process of garment design and prototyping, taking advantage of state-of-the-art algorithms from the field of mechanical simulation, animation and rendering.     

Prototypes from standard user interface management systems

An explanation is given of showing a computer what to do by directly manipulating objects, as opposed to giving it instructions using a programming language. The authors demonstrate how showing can take advantage of a standard user interface and the consistency of a user interface paradigm. They discuss prototyping in the Oregon Speedcode Universe, a programming system for writing programs without programming languages     

IFS: a tool to build application systems

The interpretive frame system (IFS), a tool for building application systems, is presented. IFS separates high-level design and user-interface programming from domain-specific programming. It offers a language suitable for implementing systems of interconnected tasks, simplifies the construction of sophisticated but easy-to-use user interfaces, and increases tool reuse in system construction. A system built with IFs is called a frame system, and it consists of four layers-the user interface, system structure, computational functions, and data architecture-which are described. The IFS language and programming environment are also described. A programming example is given. Reuse and prototyping are discussed     

Affective evaluation of user impressions using virtual product prototyping

This study aims to develop an effective and efficient method of analyzing user impressions of a product using virtual prototyping. A method to analyze the relationship between user impressions and design elements of a product using virtual prototyping was proposed, and then the method was applied to the case study of automobile interior design. Thirty‐two participants in the experiment evaluated 32 different virtual prototypes of automobile interiors generated from the combination of 17 design elements. The results of the case study showed that user impressions can be well explained by design elements. Physically large design elements, such as the shapes of frontal area, center fascia, door trim, and steering wheel, were critical areas of automobile interior design. The proposed method is expected to be an effective and efficient alternative for industrial practitioners to analyze user impressions of design alternatives at the early stage of the design process. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

BIT: Biosignal Igniter Toolkit

The study of biosignals has had a transforming role in multiple aspects of our society, which go well beyond the health sciences domains to which they were traditionally associated with. While biomedical engineering is a classical discipline where the topic is amply covered, today biosignals are a matter of interest for students, researchers and hobbyists in areas including computer science, informatics, electrical engineering, among others. Regardless of the context, the use of biosignals in experimental activities and practical projects is heavily bounded by the cost, and limited access to adequate support materials. In this paper we present an accessible, albeit versatile toolkit, composed of low-cost hardware and software, which was created to reinforce the engagement of different people in the field of biosignals. The hardware consists of a modular wireless biosignal acquisition system that can be used to support classroom activities, interface with other devices, or perform rapid prototyping of end-user applications. The software comprehends a set of programming APIs, a biosignal processing toolbox, and a framework for real time data acquisition and postprocessing.     

Concurrent intelligent rapid prototyping environment

Rapid prototyping technology enables rapid production of complex objects directly from a computer-aided design model without involving any tooling or conventional part programming. This has created a new set of problems associated with part design, process planning, support design and value engineering analysis of rapid prototyping parts. In this paper, a methodology for resolving these problems is described, which uses concurrent engineering, distributed blackboard, value engineering, knowledge-based and feature-based technologies. The functionality, design methodology and knowledge representation techniques of a concurrent intelligent rapid prototyping system for stereolithography form the main focus of this paper.     

Instrumentino: An open-source modular Python framework for controlling Arduino based experimental instruments

Instrumentino is an open-source modular graphical user interface framework for controlling Arduino based experimental instruments. It expands the control capability of Arduino by allowing instruments builders to easily create a custom user interface program running on an attached personal computer. It enables the definition of operation sequences and their automated running without user intervention. Acquired experimental data and a usage log are automatically saved on the computer for further processing. The use of the programming language Python also allows easy extension. Complex devices, which are difficult to control using an Arduino, may be integrated as well by incorporating third party application programming interfaces into the Instrumentino framework.     

利用用户定义特征实现基于约束设计

提出了基于约束的用户定义特征（User Defined Feature,UDF)定义与比实例化的通用机制及基于约束的特征库管理,并应用于国产CAD／CAM软件金银花（Lonicera)系统,以航空发动机转子为例,建立了转子特征库,对系统功能进行了验证。该项工作既为详细设计阶段考虑装约束和制造约束提供了方便,提高了设计效率,也为将用户定义特征与产品功能相联系、以支持计算机辅助概念设计打下了基础。     

基于NURBS曲线的STL模型截面轮廓平滑处理技术研究

由于STL文件格式的容易生成且不需要复杂的CAD系统支持，已经发展成为快速成型制造领域数据交换的准标准；但是STL模型的精度与其数据文件的尺寸之间存在严重的矛盾，为了在较小的STL文件下得到较高的轮廓精度，本文提出了一种基于三次NURBS曲线STL模型截面轮廓的重构技术，通过设置直线阈值和转角阈值的方法，分段拟合STL截面轮廓数据，使其截面轮廓具有更好的平滑度和更高的精度。     

LISP as a rapid prototyping environment: The Chinese tutor

LISP provides a powerful interactive environment that supports rapid prototyping of complex software. This has always been a main feature of the language, and one that has contributed to its widespread use for experimental applications. Recent years have also seen the development of LISP systems that provide performance comparable with, or better than, that of more traditional programming languages. The next logical step is to show that systems developed in LISP with a rapid-prototyping approach can also provide excellent performance. As an example of the suitability of LISP for rapid prototyping of efficient systems, this article presents a case study where a system was built in a Common Lisp environment out of a series of existing tools. Reliance on existing tools, as well as the interactive features typical of LISP, resulted in extremely rapid prototyping. The system, a computer-based tutor for beginner-level Chinese, was developed in less than three man-weeks. Very rapid development time, however, did not in any way sacrifice performance: the system's performance is quite good and comparable to that of ad hoc systems. This is true of both the interactive component of the program, i.e. the interface to the student, and the database component, which stores the system's knowledge about the Chinese language. The factors that contributed most to the short development time were the extensive reliance on existing tools, the use of an efficient knowledge representation language to implement most of the data structures, and the use of an integrated programming environment. All of these factors were in turn made possible, or at least greatly facilitated, by the choice of LISP as the programming language.     

The computation of Pareto-optimal set in multicriterial optimization of rapid prototyping processes

The purpose of this research is the multicriterial optimization of rapid prototyping processes. The mathematical model of the optimization problem takes into consideration as optimization criteria, surface quality of the prototype and the time of manufacturing. Based on the mathematical model, a practical method to find the Pareto-optimal set is developed, as a main goal. To solve the optimization problem, a computer program for rapid prototyping processes simulation was designed. The program calculates the geometry of successive layers, as well as the necessary time for their materialization. Depending on the importance degree of each optimization criterion, the program offers the optimal solution. In addition, when it is necessary, the program allows the user intervention in solving the problem optimization.The theoretical concepts presented in this research are very suggestively illustrated on a comprehensive case study. Starting from the Pareto-optimal set diagrams for the cases of LOM and SLS technologies, the optimal solutions are graphically illustrated in a very suggestive manner.     

基于分层切片原理的三维雕刻算法

分析了多种基于STL模型的快速分层算法。在综合多种算法优点的基础上,首先提出了对三角面片的顶点按其切片方向进行从小到大排序,以快速滤除冗余顶点;并在此基础上建立三角面片的顶点链表及面向量,以实现STL模型的拓扑信息重构;最后基于所重构的拓扑信息,结合几何连续性分层算法实现高效的自适应分层算法。并通过C+〖KG-*3〗+实现了这一算法,证明了快速成型技术的分层制造思想可应用于三维雕刻的CAD/CAM,在技术上是可行的。     

基于LabVIEW SIT的 PCI板卡驱动开发

LabVIEW SIT(simulation interface toolkit)是由NI公司开发的一套仿真接口工具包,它能够实现LabVIEW和Simulink仿真模型的无缝链接。在提出了一种基于LabVIEW SIT的典型快速控制原型开发架构后,分析了LabVIEW SIT环境下PCI板卡驱动程序的实现方法。以PCI-9111HR多功能数据采集卡为例,介绍了驱动程序开发的方法及编程要点,给出了LabVIEW SIT下驱动程序的基本框架,并提供了部分关键代码。在某导弹舵机半实物仿真系统中的运行结果表明该驱动程序运行稳定、可靠。     

A co-simulation framework for design of time-triggered automotive cyber physical systems

Designing cyber-physical systems (CPS) is challenging due to the tight interactions between software, network/platform, and physical components. Automotive control system is a typical CPS example and often designed based on a time-triggered paradigm. In this paper, a co-simulation framework that considers interacting CPS components for assisting time-triggered automotive CPS design is proposed. Virtual prototyping of automotive vehicles is the core of this framework, which uses SystemC to model the cyber components and integrates CarSim to model the vehicle dynamics. A network/platform model in SystemC forms the backbone of the virtual prototyping. The network/platform model consists of processing elements abstracted by real-time operating systems, communication systems, sensors, and actuators. The framework is also integrated with a model-based design tool to enable rapid prototyping. The framework is validated by comparing simulation results with the results from a hardware-in-the-loop automotive simulator. The framework is also used for design space exploration (DSE).     

Individual differences and the user interface

Individual differences in cognitive functions are relevant in introducing novioes to computing. The interaction between the user and the computer may be improved if these psychological characteristics are taken into account in the design of the user interface and in the design of introductory courses. In.section 1 of this paper an analysis is made of individual differences and of the possibilities of adaptation. The user interface is described as an opportunity for adaptation. Methods of adaptation are systematically related to the changeability of individual differences. Illustrated by an overview of previous experimental work, some principles of adaptation are demonstrated in relation to individual differences on variables that are relevant in human-computer interaction. Prior knowledge of mathematics has been shown to be related to success and failure in learning a programming language, and to motivation for using computers. In section 2 ways to prevent the course drop-out rate by structuring the teaching method are illustrated. Strategies of information processing in the user interface, in relation to metacommunication and teaching, are described in section 3 as another example of an individual difference variable that may be attended to in teaching, resulting in reduction of problem solving time. Some cognitive styles are related to success in programming. The choice of adequate educational examples may improve programming habits, as illustrated in section 4. Style of representation and spatial ability are relevant for the development of mental models of computer system. In section 5 some field studies on teaching novices to work with office systems illustrate these relations. Teaching strategies, educational examples, and metaphors, may neutralize the handicap some novices have because of these variables.