A prototype approach to information system design and development

Many organisations view the development of an information processing system as a linear process consisting of an ordered sequence of steps from conception to hand-over and make no provision for alternative strategies. While excellent in many circumstances, the linear strategy is not the only possible approach. This paper discusses alternatives, with particular reference to a prototype strategy, which has some important advantages.     

A decoupled approach to filter design for stochastic systems

This paper presents a new theorem to guarantee the almost sure exponential stability for a class of stochastic triangular systems by studying only the stability of each diagonal subsystems. This result allows to solve the filtering problem of the stochastic systems with multiplicative noises by using the almost sure exponential stability concept. Two kinds of observers are treated: the full-order and reduced-order cases.     

FBMC系统中原型滤波器的迭代设计算法

基于滤波器组的多载波系统的整体性能完全由一个原型滤波器决定,例如频率选择特性、符号间干扰和信道间干扰。为构建近似完全重构的多载波系统,提出了一种迭代算法来设计原型滤波器。该算法将设计问题归结为一个无约束的优化问题,其目标函数为符号间干扰、信道间干扰以及原型滤波器阻带能量的加权和。通过推导目标函数的梯度向量和海森矩阵,采用修正牛顿算法来迭代优化原型滤波器,每次迭代更新中,原型滤波器都是通过闭合公式求解,因此算法的计算复杂度很低。仿真实验表明,与已有的设计算法相比,所提出的算法提高了系统的整体性能。     

The combinatorial design approach to automatic test generation

The combinatorial design method substantially reduces testing costs. The authors describe an application in which the method reduced test plan development from one month to less than a week. In several experiments, the method demonstrated good code coverage and fault detection ability     

A local approach to concept generation

Generating concepts defined by a binary relation between a set of properties and a set of objects is one of the important current problems encountered in Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery in Databases. We present a new algorithmic process which computes all the concepts, without requiring an exponential-size data structure, and with a good worst-time complexity analysis, which makes it competitive with the best existing algorithms for this problem. Our algorithm can be used to compute the edges of the lattice as well at no extra cost.      

A knowledge-based approach to design

A framework is presented for constructing knowledge-based aids for design problems. In particular, we describe the organization of an interactive knowledge-based consultant for VLSI design (called VEXED?an acronym for VLSI expert editor), and a prototype implementation of VEXED. The paper focuses on the principles underlying the design of VEXED, and on several lessons and research issues that have arisen from implementing and experimenting with this prototype.     

A geometric approach to boundary-conformed toolpath generation

Isoparametric or streamline-like toolpath generation is an important method for CNC surface machining. For a trimmed surface, the generation of such a toolpath is not straightforward because by simply following the isoparametric curves of the parametric surface to generate the toolpath, the resulting toolpath may no longer conform to the trimmed boundary of the surface. Various methods have been proposed to solve this problem. Some methods work well for single surface machining, but may not be feasible for multi-patch surface machining. A new geometric approach to the problem of multi-patch machining is proposed in this paper. The new method works by generating bisectors to partition the region into smaller subregions, and generates the toolpath by offsetting the subregion boundary by using a special offset function. As this new method does not rely on processing on the parametric domain of the surface patches, it can be used for both NURBS and subdivision surfaces. Examples are given to demonstrate the capability of the new method, and to show that the new method compares favorably with existing techniques.     

A novel prototype generation technique for handwriting digit recognition

The aim of this paper is to introduce a novel prototype generation technique for handwriting digit recognition. Prototype generation is approached as a two-stage process. The first stage uses an Adaptive Resonance Theory 1 (ART1) based algorithm to select an effective initial solution, while the second one executes a fine tuning designed to generate the best prototypes.     

A formal approach to automating conceptual structural design,part II: Application to floor framing generation

The function of the structural system in a building is to transfer gravity as well as lateral loads from their points of origin to the ground. Floor framing generation involves providing a path to transfer the gravity loads to the ground through various structural elements in an architectural plan while meeting the requirements imposed by other entities, such as the architect, the mechanical engineer, and the contractor, involved in the design/construct process. In this paper a formal approach for generating floor framing plans for steel office buildings is presented. We describe the knowledge and the reasoning behind a computer system, FFG (floor framing generator), which generates floor framing schemes for steel office buildings that are rectangular in plan and have a single service core. Constraints arising from structural as well as exogenous considerations are enumerated and their effect on framing schemes is identified. We also elaborate on the evaluation mechanism for ranking alternative schemes, in addition to providing details of the computer implementation.     

A multi-agent approach to fixture design

The design of fixtures is a highly complex process that requires the human designer to draw from his rich experience. In addition, for a given workpiece, multiple solutions may exist. By exploiting the recent advances in CAD/CAM and Artificial Intelligence techniques, one may constrain the multiple solutions such that only good designs (measured through performance measures) are considered.In this paper, a multi-agent fixture design system is proposed that harnesses the advantages of genetic algorithms and neural networks. This system attempts to capture the relevant domain knowledge and uses it to produce acceptable solutions efficiently. The system is applied to a case problem and the suggested fixturing solution is compared to one offered by a human designer. The agreement between the two solutions is very close.     

A feature-based approach to structural design

Despite the continuing improvements in computeraided design (CAD) systems and improvements in geometric modeling, most CAD systems are used as advanced drafting and drawing management tools by structural designers. A computer model of a structural design usually is generated by creating a detailed geometric model of the primitive components of the design and then attaching attributes, such as physical properties and loading conditions, to the various geometric components to reveal the structural characteristics of those components. Thisbottom-up approach has been inherited from early drafting techniques and contrasts sharply with a structural designer's natural way of thinking and reasoning about the design. Geometric features, on the other hand, provide high-level abstractions of design information and can be tailored to a designer's specific engineering needs. In this paper the advantages of using feature-based techniques in structural CAD systems are discussed. These techniques provide better modeling primitives for users and superior data models for CAD systems for reasoning about the geometry, topology, and engineering properties of a structure.     

A structured approach to language design

This report is an attempt at systematizing a set of ground rules for high-level language design. It recommends the use of a hierarchical semantic model schema. HGL, in a step by step, top-down approach imposing more and more structure on the language components as the design becomes solidified. The approach is demonstrated by showing the stepwise design of the high-level language, GRAAL. The method recommended is divided into three major phases. The first is an informal one. The second is encoding the language components into a very high-level model. This high-level design allows a redesign of language components before they have been specified at too detailed a level. The third phase is to design the compiler in HGL using the final language design.     

A pattern approach to interaction design

To create successful interactive systems, user interface designers need to cooperate with developers and application domain experts in an interdisciplinary team. These groups, however, usually lack a common terminology to exchange ideas, opinions and values. This paper presents an approach that uses pattern languages to capture this knowledge in software development, human-computer interaction (HCI) and the application domain. A formal, domain-independent definition of design patterns allows for computer support without sacrificing readability, and pattern use is integrated into the usability engineering life cycle. As an example, experience from building an award-winning interactive music exhibit was turned into a pattern language, which was then used to inform follow-up projects and support HCI education.An earlier version of this paper appeared in theProceedings of the DIS 2000 International Conference on Designing Interactive Systems (16–19 August 2000, New York) and appears by permission of the ACM Press.     

An LMI approach to design robust fault detection filter for uncertain LTI systems

In this paper, the robust fault detection filter design problem for uncertain linear time-invariant (LTI) systems with both unknown inputs and modelling errors is studied. The basic idea of our study is to use an optimal residual generator (assuming no modelling errors) as the reference residual model of the robust fault detection filter design for uncertain LTI systems with modelling errors and, based on it, to formulate the robust fault detection filter design as an H_∞ model-matching problem. By using some recent results of H_∞ optimization, a solution of the optimization problem is then presented via a linear matrix inequality (LMI) formulation. The main results include the development of an optimal reference residual model, the formulation of robust fault detection filter design problem, the derivation of a sufficient condition for the existence of a robust fault detection filter and a construction of it based on the LMI solution parameters, the determination of adaptive threshold for fault detection. An illustrative design example is employed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

A constructive approach to constrained hexahedral mesh generation

Mitchell proved that a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a topological hexahedral mesh constrained to a quadrilateral mesh on the sphere is that the constraining quadrilateral mesh contains an even number of elements. Mitchell’s proof depends on Smale’s theorem on the regularity of curves on compact manifolds. Although the question of the existence of constrained hexahedral meshes has been solved, the known solution is not easily programmable; indeed, there are cases, such as Schneider’s Pyramid, that are not easily solved. Eppstein later utilized portions of Mitchell’s existence proof to demonstrate that hexahedral mesh generation has linear complexity. In this paper, we demonstrate a constructive proof to the existence theorem for the sphere, as well as assign an upper-bound to the constant of the linear term in the asymptotic complexity measure provided by Eppstein. Our construction generates 76 × n hexahedra elements within the solid where n is the number of quadrilaterals on the boundary. The construction presented is used to solve some problems posed by Schneiders and Eppstein. We will also use the results provided in this paper, in conjunction with Mitchell’s Geode-Template, to create an alternative way of creating a constrained hexahedral mesh. The construction utilizing the Geode-Template requires 130 × n hexahedra, but will have fewer topological irregularities in the final mesh.     

A prototype system for early geometric configuration design

In this paper, we present a prototype system that has been developed to support geometric configuration of objects at the early stages of design. Guided by the general principle of minimum commitment, this system assists in the iterative development of alternative geometric configurations based on approximately or precisely defined information. The system has been evaluated in the context of computer enclosure design.     

Detection filter design for LPV systems—a geometric approach

This paper investigates fault detection and isolation of linear parameter-varying (LPV) systems by using parameter-varying (C,A)-invariant subspace and parameter-varying unobservability subspaces. The so called “detection filter” approach, formulated as the fundamental problem of residual generation (FPRG) for linear time-invariant (LTI) systems, is extended for a class of LPV systems. The question of stability is addressed in the terms of Lyapunov quadratic stability by using linear matrix inequalities. The results are applied to the model of a generic small commercial aircraft.     

A knowledge-based approach to design for manufacturability

In the light of growing global competition, organizations around the world today are constantly under pressure to produce high-quality products at an economical price. The integration of design and manufacturing activities into one common engineering effort has been recognized as a key strategy for survival and growth. Design for manufacturability (DFM) is an approach to design that fosters the simultaneous involvement of product design and process design. The implementation of the DFM approach requires the collaboration of both the design and manufacturing functions within an organization. Many reasons can be cited for the inability to implement the DFM approach effectively, including: lack of interdisciplinary expertise of designers; inflexibility in organizational structure, which hinders interaction between design and manufacturing functions; lack of manufacturing cost information at the design phase; and absence of integrated engineering effort intended to maximize functional and manufacturability objectives. The purpose of this research is to show how expert systems methodology could be used to provide manufacturability expertise during the design phase of a product. An object- and rule-based expert system has been developed that has the capability: (1) to make process selection decisions based on a set of design and production parameters to achieve cost-effective manufacture; and (2) to estimate manufacturing cost based on the identified processes. The expertise for primary process selection is developed for casting and forging processes. The specialized processes considered are die casting, investment casting, sand casting, precision forging, open die forging and conventional die forging. The processes considered for secondary process selection are end milling and drilling. The cost estimation expertise is developed for the die casting process, the milling and drilling operations, and the manual assembly operations. The results obtained from the application of the expert system suggest that the use of expert systems methodology is a feasible method for implementing the DFM approach.     

A Kalman filter approach to direct depth estimation incorporatingsurface structure

The problem of depth-from-motion using a monocular image sequence is considered. A pixel-based model is developed for direct depth estimation within a Kalman filtering framework. A method is proposed for incorporating local surface structure into the Kalman filter. Experimental results are provided to illustrate the effect of structural information on depth estimation