A Stochastic Graph Grammar Algorithm for Interactive Search

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew I. Campbell ◽  
Rahul Rai ◽  
Tolga Kurtoglu
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
User Interaction ◽  
Generative Grammar ◽  
Search Method ◽  
Graph Grammar ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Design Decisions ◽  
Interactive Search ◽  
Stochastic Graph ◽  
Single Configuration

This paper presents a new search method that has been developed specifically for search trees defined by a generative grammar. Generative grammars are useful in design as a way to encapsulate the design decisions that lead to candidate solutions. Since the candidate solutions are not confined to a single configuration or topology and thus useful in conceptual design, they may be difficult to computationally analyze. Analysis is achieved in this method by querying the user. The user interaction is kept to a maximum of thirty pair-wise comparisons of candidates. From the data gathered from the comparisons, a stochastic decision making process infers what candidate solutions best meet the user’s preference. The method is implemented and applied to a grammar for tying neckties. It is shown through 21 user experiments and 4000 automated experiments that the method consistently finds solutions within the 99.8 percentile. The implications of this method for conceptual design are expounded on in the conclusions.

A Stochastic Tree-Search Algorithm for Generative Grammars1

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew I. Campbell ◽  
Rahul Rai ◽  
Tolga Kurtoglu
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Search Algorithm ◽  
User Interaction ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Tree Search ◽  
Design Decisions ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Tree Search Algorithm ◽  
Stochastic Tree ◽  
Single Configuration

This paper presents a new search method that has been developed specifically for search trees defined by a generative grammar. Generative grammars are useful in design as a way to encapsulate the design decisions that lead to candidate solutions. Since the candidate solutions are not confined to a single configuration or topology and thus useful in conceptual design, they may be difficult to computationally analyze. Analysis is achieved in this method by querying the user. A formal definition of a rule-based interactive tree-search is presented in this paper. The user interaction is kept to 30 pair-wise comparisons of candidates. From the data gathered from the comparisons, a stochastic decision-making process infers what candidate solutions best match the known optimal. The method is implemented and applied to a grammar for tying neckties. It is shown through 21 user experiments and 4000 automated experiments that the method consistently finds solutions within the 99.8 percentile. The computational complexity of the proposed algorithm is also studied. The implications of this method for conceptual design are expounded on in the conclusions.

A Novel Search Algorithm for Interactive Automated Conceptual Design Generator (ACDG)

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahul Rai ◽  
Pranay Kilaru ◽  
Ravi Vallepalli ◽  
Matthew I. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Search Algorithm ◽  
Generative Grammar ◽  
Search Space ◽  
Search Method ◽  
Concept Generation ◽  
Formal Representation ◽  
Human In The Loop ◽  
Multiple User ◽  
User Fatigue

Automated concept generation is non-trivial task. The complexity of this problem is mainly due to lack of formal representation frameworks that lend themselves easily to a computational approach. Generative grammar has emerged as a potential solution to this problem and presents a number of different possibilities for conceptual design automation. This paper presents a novel search method that has been developed specifically for search trees defined by a special class of generative grammar in which rules of the grammar have parameters associated with them. A novel feature of the proposed search is ‘Human in the loop’ approach in which learning about the search space is achieved by querying the user. The user fatigue restricts the maximum number of comparisons of candidate solutions (30–50). From the data gathered from the comparisons, a stochastic decision making process proposed in this paper quickly converges to a region of design space which best meet the user’s preference. The method is implemented and applied to a grammar for shampoo bottle concept generation. It is shown through multiple user-guided and automated experiments that the method has ability to learn and adopt through human computer interaction process. The implications of the proposed search method for automated conceptual design are expounded on in the conclusions.

A Framework for Decision-Based Engineering Design

1998 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 653-658 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Hazelrigg
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Operations Research ◽  
Quality Function Deployment ◽  
Value Theory ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Design Decisions ◽  
Decision Sciences ◽  
Research Decision ◽  
Decision Based Design ◽  
Total Life

Engineering design is increasingly recognized as a decision-making process. This recognition brings with it the richness of many well-developed theories and methods from economics, operations research, decision sciences, and other disciplines. Done correctly, it forces the process of engineering design into a total systems context, and demands that design decisions account for a product’s total life cycle. It also provides a theory of design that is based on a rigorous set of axioms that underlie value theory. But the rigor of decision-based design also places stringent conditions on the process of engineering design that eliminate popular approaches such as Quality Function Deployment. This paper presents the underlying notions of decision-based design, points to some of the axioms that underlie the theory of decision-based design, and discusses the consequences of the theory on engineering education.

Forging a Geometric Link Between Function-Based Design and DfM

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manish Verma ◽  
Hui Dong ◽  
William H. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Design Stage ◽  
Direct Connection ◽  
Functional Modeling ◽  
Small Space ◽  
Design Decisions ◽  
Design For Manufacture ◽  
Part Geometry ◽  
Conceptual Design Stage

Design for Manufacture (DfM) tends to explore only a small space of possible designs toward improving manufacturability. By focusing primarily on detailed geometry, DfM tends to recommend incremental changes. This paper presents a methodology that begins at the conceptual design stage, applying functional modeling to the generation of design configurations. These functional abstractions are merged with real part geometry toward generating potentially manufacturable design skeletons. The direct connection from function to manufacturable form afforded by this method allows the designer to make better-informed design decisions at the earliest stages of the design process.

A Review of Reliability Principles in Conceptual Design

2011 ◽  
Vol 199-200 ◽  
pp. 583-586
Author(s):  
Yu Lian Cui ◽  
Wei Wu
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Reliability Prediction ◽  
Design Stage ◽  
Design Phase ◽  
Product Reliability ◽  
Design Decisions ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Conceptual Design Phase

In this paper an attempt has been made to identify certain useful parts that will assist to consider reliability during conceptual design phase. The aim is to provide some thoughts and a toolkit for addressing reliability during the early stages of design, influencing design decisions and product reliability, and reducing the relying on the reliability prediction and expensive experiments in later design stage. Therefore high reliability can be cost-effectively achieved.

Framework for Generating Modularized Product Designs With Assembly and Variety Considerations

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saraj Gupta ◽  
Gu¨l E. Okudan
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Graph Grammar ◽  
Design Stage ◽  
Design For Assembly ◽  
Computational Tools ◽  
Design Alternatives ◽  
Grammar Rules ◽  
Design For Variety ◽  
Two Alternatives

Conceptual design is found to be the most ambiguous and creative phase of design. There exist only a few computational tools that aid designers at conceptual design stage, and mostly designers rely on personal experience or experience of coworkers to generate quality designs. The proposed framework aims at generating robust computerized conceptual designs by incorporating Modularity, Design for Assembly (DFA) and Design for Variety (DFV) principles at the conceptual stage. Conceptual design alternatives obtained from the proposed framework are ranked based on minimum assembly time, and are composed of modules in a way that future changes in customer needs are satisfied only by replacing certain modules. The framework involves searching a design repository of components by using functional-basis and pre-defined graph grammar rules, to generate all possible conceptual design alternatives. These design alternatives are ranked and filtered using a DFA index, and top two alternatives are selected. Selected designs are modularized and filtered using a DFV index to obtain the best design alternative. This paper provides a detailed discussion of the framework obtained by amalgamating Modularity, DFA, and DFV. Working of the proposed framework is demonstrated with the help of an electronic toothbrush design example.

Assembly and Variety Considerations During Conceptual Design

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saraj Gupta ◽  
Gu¨l E. Okudan
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Graph Grammar ◽  
Design Stage ◽  
Computational Tools ◽  
Design Alternatives ◽  
Grammar Rules ◽  
Design For Variety ◽  
Electromechanical Product ◽  
Two Alternatives

Foremost step in the development of any electromechanical product is its design, and conceptual design is the most ambiguous and creative phase of design. There exist only a few computational tools that aid designers at conceptual design stage, and mostly designers rely on personal experience or experience of co-workers to generate quality designs. The proposed framework aims at generating robust computerized conceptual designs by incorporating Modularity, Design for Assembly (DFA) and Design for Variety (DFV) principles at the conceptual stage. Conceptual design alternatives obtained from the proposed framework are ranked based on minimum assembly time, and are composed of modules in a way that future changes in customer needs are satisfied only by replacing certain modules. The framework involves searching a design repository of components by using functional-basis and pre-defined graph grammar rules, to generate all possible conceptual design alternatives. These design alternatives are ranked and filtered using a DFA index, and top two alternatives are selected. Selected designs are modularized and filtered using a DFV index to obtain the best design alternative. This paper provides a detailed discussion of the proposed framework, and its working is illustrated through the design of a mounting system for holding a Variable Message Sign (VMS).

scholarly journals Marketing Based Decision Making Process in Engineering Design

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4.36) ◽  
pp. 854
Author(s):  
K. Palani Raj ◽  
G. Veeramani
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Risk And Uncertainty ◽  
Design Decisions ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Important Study ◽  
Process Manufacturing

Marketing based decision making process in engineering design is an important study required for industries. How to take efficient decision in design that influence marketing? Most of the engineering design decisions are based on consumer behaviour. Decision making in risk and uncertainty in engineering design is an important phenomenon. Cost and time are the two important factors that results loss because of inefficient decision and it affects marketing. Problems involved in marketing based engineering design and decision making process in solving problems is elaborately studied in this journal. How to choose a design in various alternatives, design process, manufacturing feasibility, material and methodology are the important factors that influences decision making in engineering design for marketing. Different types of theories in decision making process that helps in taking proper decision were studied in this journal. This study is based on data taken from various Research & Development centre in Industries. 

Facilitating Tacit Knowledge Capture and Reuse in Conceptual Design Activities

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel J. Yen ◽  
Renate Fruchter ◽  
Larry J. Leifer
Keyword(s):  
Tacit Knowledge ◽  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Explicit Knowledge ◽  
Design Reuse ◽  
Design Rationale ◽  
Concept Generation ◽  
Design Decisions ◽  
Requirements Specifications ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Design Activities

Abstract This paper discusses the approach and analysis of an empirical study that supports the hypothesis that concept generation and development occur most frequently in informal media where design capture tools are the weakest. This statement has strong implications for the capture and reuse of design knowledge because conceptual design generates the majority of initial ideas and directions that guide the course of the project. Many important decisions are made along with rationales that support these decisions, but since these rationales are expressed in design activities such as brainstorming sessions and conversations, the design rationale is rarely captured and the knowledge is lost. While traditional product documentation captures explicit knowledge such as requirements, specifications, and design decisions, often the contextual or tacit knowledge of the design group is lost. The paper concludes with a description of a computer-mediated system, called “Recall”, that addresses the results of our findings by providing a means of capturing and indexing informal media to facilitate design reuse.

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