Visual interactive simulation and artificial intelligence in design of flexible manufacturing systems

The design of flexible manufacturing systems is a complex decision-making process that typically involves the evaluation of a number of different design alternatives. The evaluation is often performed using modelling and simulation techniques. The role of visual interactive modelling and simulation in design of flexible manufacturing systems is discussed. The application of artificial intelligence techniques to implement a set of knowledge sources, used for accomplishment of various design activities, is described. An object-orientated implementation is used to illustrate the underlying concepts.     

Computer simulation for quality and reliability engineering

Computer simulation has been used widely in many industries for many applications. A simulation model mimics a real world system, enabling an investigation of its operation. More recently simulation models have incorporated a visual display and interactive features to aid understanding and enhance the investigation. Computer simulation has many potential uses in quality and reliability engineering, for instance, modelling equipment failures, quality control strategies, maintenance requirements and operational logistics. A case study shows how simulation has been used to study the throughput, flexibility and robustness of a manufacturing plant design. Alternative simulation software packages are briefly discussed.     

Implementation of an object-oriented tool for the simulation of manufacturing systems and its application to study the effects of flexibility

Although there is a reasonable number of currently available modelling tools for the analysis and evaluation of flexible manufacturing systems, these models, in general, neglect flexibility. They do not consider that in a flexible manufacturing system there is the possibility of different operation sequences. As a consequence, while flexibility in manufacturing is much 'in vogue', the development of models that are able to improve the understanding and consequences of having flexibility is still incipient in the literature. This paper presents work to develop a tool to support the analysis of flexible automation. The tool described is an objectoriented discrete-event simulator, called OOSimFlex, capable of modelling different alternative systems design and analysing a manufacturing system using multiple performance measures under different manufacturing flexibility levels. The paper describes the major theoretical concepts employed for the development of a highly flexible and interactive simulation model environment.     

Emergency department operations: The basis for developing a simulation tool

In recent years, hospitals have been vigorously searching for ways to reduce costs and improve productivity. One tool, simulation, is now widely accepted as an effective method to assist management in evaluating different operational alternatives. It can help improve existing Emergency Departments (EDs) and assist in planning and designing new EDs. In order to increase the acceptance of simulation in healthcare systems in general and EDs in particular, hospital management should be directly involved in the development of these projects. Such involvement will also bolster the simulation's credibility. In addition, it is important to simplify simulation processes as much as is reasonably possible and use visual aids or animation that will heighten users' confidence in the model's ability. This study lays the foundation for the development of a simulation tool which is general, flexible, intuitive, simple to use and contains default values for most of the system's parameters.     

Integrated material logistics and continuous flow manufacturing

Integrated material logistics is the integration of both materials and information flow into an effective and efficient total system. Continuous flow manufacturing (CFM) is a philosophy that concentrates on the elimination of waste, total quality control and total work-force involvement as a means of achieving and sustaining manufacturing competitiveness. This paper reports on the approach to the design and implementation of integrated material logistics with continuous flow manufacturing at IBM Havant Plant, The adoption of a competitive logistics strategy led to a fundamental re-appraisal of the role of logistics in discrete manufacturing. The later development and implementation of a blueprint required a focused cross-disciplinary team supported by more robust controls. Opportunities for work re-organization and devolution of responsibility were taken. With major investment in education and training, new processes and new measurements of process efficiency, a radical change in the culture of the facility was effected. The CFM paradigm continues to exert a profound influence for improvement throughout every aspect of the logistics process.     

基于汽车人机界面评测的中控触屏按键研究

目的 研究汽车中控触屏按键的尺寸及驾驶员交互特性,为设计提出指南及建议.方法 采用文献调研法建立汽车人机界面评测指标,基于驾驶仿真系统,通过实验收集安全性与用户体验维度的主客观数据,对不同尺寸的按键进行测试评估,探索驾驶员的交互操作特性.结果 按键尺寸大小与点击按键位置、视觉主观评分、工作负荷、可用性存在相关性;按键点击位置与按键中心的距离随按键尺寸增大而增大;点击按键位置倾向于左侧;主观评分、可用性与按键尺寸在一定范围内呈正相关,工作负荷表现则相反.结论 建议中控触屏按键尺寸为9～15 mm,经过公式换算可适应不同尺寸的车载屏幕.车载界面设计布局常用控件应多在左侧或扩大控件的操作热区.将汽车人机界面评测应用于车载中控触屏按键研究中可以为界面设计规范提供新的思路.     

Simulation in the design and operation of manufacturing systems: state of the art and new trends

As the industrial requirements change at a rapid pace due to the drastic evolution of technology, the necessity of quickly investigating potential system alternatives towards a more efficient manufacturing system design arises more intensely than ever. Manufacturing systems simulation has proven to be a powerful tool for designing and evaluating a manufacturing system due to its low cost, quick analysis, low risk and meaningful insight that it may provide, improving thus the understanding of the influence of each component. Simulation comprises an indispensable set of IT tools and methods for the successful implementation of digital manufacturing. It allows experimentation and validation of product, process, and system design and configuration. This paper investigates the major historical milestones in the evolution of manufacturing systems simulation technologies and examines recent industrial and research approaches in key fields of manufacturing. It describes how the urge towards digitalisation of manufacturing in the context of the 4th Industrial revolution has shaped simulation in the design and operation of manufacturing systems and reviews the new approaches that have arisen in the literature. Particular focus is given to technologies in the digitalised factories of the future that are gaining ground in industrial applications simulation, offering multiple advantages.     

物流冷链消毒设备改进设计与仿真分析

目的 为强化疫情防控工作,针对物流冷链行业包裹消毒链工作效率缓慢的问题,对消毒设备进行改进设计,提高冷链消毒设备操作时的人机舒适性和工作效率。方法 基于人机工程学理论,对现有物流冷链消毒设备原理与组成结构进行分析,对消毒设备的功能布局和结构尺寸进行优化。利用Jack虚拟仿真软件对改进前、后的冷链消毒设备进行对比,并进行人机工程仿真验证及评价。结果 通过仿真验证得出,改进后的消毒设备方案增强了人体在不同工作流程中的舒适度,有效改善了操作人员长期工作时的身体疲劳,并提高了产品的使用效率。结论 冷链消毒设备的改进设计使消毒人员与机器之间形成和谐有效的人机关系,研究结果可为消毒设备创新设计提供参考,为疫情防控期间冷链行业的防疫工作提供有效建议。     

基于Plant Simulation的智能制造测试床仿真模型 设计与应用

为了验证智能制造测试床的整体布局设计和制造工艺在生产运营环境下的合理性，利用西门子Plant Simulation工厂仿真软件进行生产节拍和设备利用率分析。首先，建立了按订单生产运行的制造生产线二维仿真模型，根据生产要求对二维仿真模型进行输入参数设定，并根据二维仿真模型运行后得到的分析统计结果进行工艺布局、物流布局和制造策略的优化。然后，在二维仿真模型基础上，为了让仿真模型在建设阶段和运营阶段具有更直观的展示效果，基于原三维设计图，在三维仿真模型中替换或导入各对象的三维模型，并运用Simltalk语言编写精细的三维位置坐标和动作路径动画程序，对仿真模型进行三维效果优化。结果表明优化后的智能制造测试床三维仿真模型可以实现与实际生产一致的业务运行模式，它具有更形象、逼真的动态运行展示效果。仿真结果可指导智能制造测试床的建设与优化，且在测试床投入运营后，仿真模型还能够接受运营数据以对测试床进行持续迭代的优化。提出的仿真模型设计方法为实现智能制造测试床的“数字孪生”奠定了基础。     

A systematic approach to determine the optimal maintenance policy for an automated manufacturing system

We propose a systematic approach to determine the optimal maintenance policy for an automated manufacturing system which includes a flexible manufacturing cell (FMC) and several automated machine shops. The systematic approach combines simulation, fractional factorial design, noise or outer array of Taguchi design, regression metamodelling, and classical queueing analysis. A useful expression of the fractional utilization of the manufacturing system is derived and incorporated into formulating and solving the corresponding decision problem. The systematic approach provides an effective implementation procedure to handle practical maintenance problems found in a complex manufacturing environment. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SmartSim: An object oriented simulation program generator for manufacturing systems

SmartSim is a simulation environment that can be used by manufacturing engineers as a computer aided design tool for designing manufacturing systems. SmartSim has been found to increase the ease with which simulation models can be constructed and modified. It is able to accomplish this due to the synergy of an icon-based user interface, availability of interactive animation, support for an object-oriented simulation world view, inheritance, a built-in taxonomy of simulation objects, and facilities for subsystem construction, archiving and reuse.     

Intelligent decision support system for the adaptive control of a flexible manufacturing system with machine and tool flexibility

This paper describes an intelligent decision support system (IDSS) for real time control of a flexible manufacturing system (FMS). The controller is capable of classifying symptoms in developing the control policies on FMSs with flexibility in operation assignment and scheduling of multi-purpose machining centres which have different tools with their own efficiency. The proposed system is implemented by coupling of rule-based IDSS, simulation block and centralised simulation optimiser for elicitation of shop floor control knowledge. This posteriori adaptive controller uses a new bilateral mechanism in simulation optimiser block for offline training of IDSS based on multi-performance criteria simulation optimisation. The proposed intelligent controller receives online information of the FMS current state and trigger appropriate control rule within real-time simulation data exchange. Finally the FMS intelligent controller is validated by a benchmark test problem. Application of this adaptive controller showed that it could be an effective approach for real time control of various flexible manufacturing systems.     

智能手机APP用户界面设计的行为逻辑思维

目的 研究用户行为逻辑对智能手机APP用户界面设计的影响,以实现用户界面设计思维和结果的优化。方法 首先分析智能手机APP用户界面设计的基本流程,再重点从用户体验的角度,结合实例分析用户界面设计目前存在的主要问题是信息架构不能匹配用户的惯性思维与行为习惯,交互流程不够方便造成用户误操作,视觉隐喻不能及时地给予用户操作指引。从而论证得出从用户行为逻辑入手是优化用户界面设计的重要设计思维。结论 总结出智能手机APP用户的行为逻辑特征和APP用户界面设计的行为逻辑应用,包括以用户行为逻辑为优先优化信息架构、以用户行为逻辑为指导简化任务交互流程、用户行为逻辑分析与视觉设计同步展开。     

交互式理念下城市视觉导视系统设计研究

目的对城市视觉引导设计的路径及方法的探究。方法以人性的基本诉求为指引,从交互式设计理念着手,运用城市视觉空间描绘与解析的策略,进一步挖掘城市视觉导视系统设计的内在逻辑。结论通过对城市视觉导视系统设计的理论解析与案例剖析,推导出了现代城市视觉导视系统设计必须重视体现"交互式思维"与"导视的信息整合"两方面的基本论调,能够看出在城市视觉导视系统设计研究过程中,要重视交互式体验与人性化诉求,最终实现系统信息有效整合与传递,确保表达其功能性。     

Flowsheet simulation of solids processes: Current status and future trends

Complex manufacturing processes are nowadays applied for production of various solid products. It is very common that for production of particles with desired properties several transformation steps like drying, milling, classification, granulation, etc. should be involved. This leads to the process structures consisting of different apparatuses or transformation substeps connected with material and energy balances. Consequently, development of new processes or optimization of already existing, as well as an optimal control, is a very challenging task, which can be partially solved using numerical modelling.For the simulation of modern production processes, the flowsheet calculations can be effectively used. Starting from the 80 s a lot of work focused on the flowsheet simulation of liquid-vapor systems has been done and as result various well-established systems exist today. With respect to the solid processes the intensive research has been started much later. In this contribution we present our view about a current role of flowsheet simulation for modeling of particulate materials and specify the open fields which can be covered in future research.     

基于网络的实时虚拟装配系统的研究

基于网络的虚拟装配为虚拟制造领域提出了一个崭新的思路和方法.提出了虚拟装配过程中约束的实时控制与虚拟装配仿真磁心定位的概念,从产品的装配分析角度出发,实现了网络环境下虚拟装配系统的智能化动态仿真、装配信息实时反馈以及虚拟环境下数据库的快速查询,并研究了仿真动画和交互的关键技术.     

A Petri net based design engine for manufacturing systems

Support for the efficient design and operation of complex manufacturing systems requires an integrated modelling, analysis, and control methodology as well as its implementation in a software tool. In this paper the Petri net based design engine TimeNET is presented for this task. Petri nets are able to capture the characteristic features of manufacturing systems in a concise form. A subclass of coloured Petri nets is used, which has been developed especially for the application area of manufacturing. Structure and work plans are modelled separately. Stochastic as well as deterministic and more general distributions are adopted for the firing times of transitions. Fundamental questions about system properties can be answered using qualitative analysis. For an efficient performance and dependability prediction, different evaluation techniques are proposed: direct numerical analysis, approximate analysis, and simulation. Finally, the model can be used to evaluate different control strategies and to control the manufacturing system directly. There is no need to change the modelling methodology, thus avoiding additional effort, for example for model conversion. In the paper this necessary steps are described using an application example.     

基于普适计算的穿戴产品交互应用研究

目的针对信息时代穿戴产品具有的数字化功能特征,基于物联网普适计算的控制原理,在穿戴产品设计中植入具备普适计算能力的先进制造,弥补传统穿戴产品在实现用户体验模式上的功能性和交互方式创新性的不足。方法对基于普适计算穿戴产品设计的时代背景进行阐述,从交互设计的角度,分别对增强现实交互、情感交互和叙事交互3个层面进行分析,详细论述普适计算在实现信息时代用户体验中的差异化、个性化和定制化需求穿戴产品设计的交互应用。结论面向未来的穿戴产品设计融合普适计算的交互模式创新,在视觉层面满足用户对于物理现实空间的虚拟增强体验;在情感层面根据青少年的行为特点和心理特点,全天候值守并与家长进行及时反馈和联系;在叙事层面能够帮助用户分析膳食搭配问题的原因并提出合理、有效的建议,有助于用户对于自我保健的认知与学习,提升良好的用户体验感。     

Capturing intelligence as a reusable framework for manufacturing decision processes

A reusable framework consisting of hierarchical knowledge representation, preliminary design, iterative modification, four information flow and reasoning paths, and solution validation is conceived as a common substrate for addressing multiple components in manufacturing decision processes. The problems are represented in a state-space framework. An investment is made to design a rich representational scheme and to discriminate the promising solution states by utilizing its many implicit constraints in contrast to investing in heuristics operating on a more simplified representation of the problem. Although isolated segments of the described framework (e.g. hierarchical problem solving, abstraction) have been previously mentioned in knowledge-based problem solving, the framework distinguishes itself by exploring the nature of the interaction of these concepts in actually obtaining end results for manufacturing problems. Although hard to quantify, it is stated that the involved ‘intelligence’ from the manufacturing systems integration standpoint is the amount of reusability in the framework for different components of manufacturing decision processes. The reusability of the framework is illustrated by two such components: (i) integration of design and process planning, and (ii) facilities layout.