Energy Efficient Motion Design and Task Scheduling for an Autonomous Vehicle

This paper describes an approach for designing an energy efficient motion and task scheduling for an autonomous vehicle which is moving in complicated environments in industrial sector or in large warehouses. The vehicle is requested to serve a number of workstations while moving safely and efficiently in the environment. In the proposed approach, the overall problem is formulated as a constraint optimization problem by using the Bump-Surface concept. Then, a Pareto-based multi- objective optimization strategy is adopted, and a modified genetic algorithm is developed to determine the Pareto optimum solution. The efficiency of the developed method is investigated and discussed through simulated experiments.

Fundamental Concepts for Product Designs Based on Pareto Optimum Solutions

This paper proposes fundamental concepts for goal-defined product designs, and practical methodologies for achieving optimal designs based these concepts. Also emphasized are the functions and significance of Pareto optimum solution sets in multi-objective optimizations during the execution of the proposed methodologies. Three main concepts for product design optimization are presented. First, the goal of the product design optimization is specified to obtain the best harmony of related (and often conflicting) characteristics, where Pareto optimum solution sets represent this harmony and more preferable degrees of harmony cause an increase in social profit. Second, to obtain design solutions that maximize the desired harmony, deeper level characteristics in the design optimization problem are derived based on simplification or decomposition of the usual surface level characteristics, and optimizations are initiated from these deeper levels where the most important and influential aspects of the design problems are easiest to recognize. The third concept entails the use of collaboration with specialist experts concerning the product characteristics, focusing on Pareto optimum solution sets obtained in deeper level optimizations, so that these experts can facilitate the development of more preferable results based on their own ideas and knowledge. The interrelationships between the second and third concepts are described and used to obtain globally optimal design solutions that have the highest degree of harmony for the required product design objectives. The proposed concepts and methodologies for product design optimizations are demonstrated using certain designs for articulated robots.

One Welfare State for Europe: A Costly Utopia?

This paper addresses the question of the social policy harmonization in the European Union. In adopting a common monetary policy, Europe is faced with structural and fiscal concerns, as national growth levels differ. Another possible factor in output shocks are the levels of various social expenditures in the member countries. OECD data on the level of social program expenditures in four EU countries will be compared to fluctuations in GDP growth to identify existing relationships. Significant relationships between independent social expenditure policy and GDP growth shocks suggest structural harmonization as an improvement if Europe is to take full advantage of the common market. However, the effects of expenditure levels may be easier to identify and predict than the dynamic effects of policy change. As the effects of future policy changes are more difficult to ascertain, harmonization may not consistently appear to be a Pareto-optimum solution to asymmetric shocks.

Flexible Optimization of Machine Products Considering the Working Environment

In order to obtain product designs which enhance the flexibility for change in the working environment of the product, a flexible design optimization method is proposed in which any change is clearly evaluated at the design stage. Here, a criterion of maximization of the flexibility for the product working environment is added to the conventional criteria such as the product performance and the manufacturing cost and a multiobjective optimization problem is formulated. The influence that enhancing flexibility has on the other characteristics is integratedly evaluated by the tradeoff analysis of the Pareto optimum solution set. Then, the preference structure of the decision maker is formulated by the preference function for each evaluative characteristic. The preference functions are interactively modified based on the tradeoff analysis between the evaluative characteristics. The solution most sufficiently reflecting the preference structure of the decision maker is finally determined as the design solution.

Concurrent Product Design Based on Simultaneous Processing of Design and Manufacturing Information by Utility Analysis

A methodology for concurrent decision making of factors concerning product design and product manufacturing is proposed for obtaining better product designs from a wider global viewpoint of the product performance and the product manufacturing cost according to the concept of concurrent engineering. In this method, first, a function expressing the satisfactory level of the manufacturing division and a function expressing the satisfactory level of the design division are formulated for the product design being regarded. Then, an integrated higher ranking decision making utility function is formulated using these two satisfactory level functions by the utility analysis. Next, Pareto optimum solution sets of the two multiobjective optimization problems of maximization of the product performance and minimization of the product manufacturing cost are obtained for alternative product designs. Finally, on the Pareto optimum solution curves, the values of the integrated satisfactory levels are obtained and the most preferable design solution is selected. An applied example of this concurrent design procedure is given to demonstrate it’s effectiveness in comparison to a conventional design procedure.

Design Optimization Considering Flexibility for Working Environment Based on Information of Pareto Optimum Solution Curvatures

This paper presents design decision making methods considering flexibility for change in the working environment. In order to make a clear evaluation of the changes in the optimum levels of the product cost and product performance due to changes in the working environment, three objective design optimization problems are constructed having the three objectives of minimization of the product cost, maximization of the product performance and maximization of flexibility for the working environment. The Pareto optimum solution set forming a curvature is obtained for the evaluation. Then, a method for determining the preferable design solution using information from the Pareto optimum solution curvature is presented. Finally, the proposed methods are applied to design examples for demonstrating effectiveness.