Problem Discovery With Many-Objective Visual Analytics

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Woodruff ◽  
Timothy W. Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Visual Analytics ◽  
Design Problem ◽  
Problem Formulation ◽  
Design Problems ◽  
Design Decisions ◽  
Detailed Design ◽  
Default State ◽  
State Of Affairs

Problem discovery is messy. It involves many mistakes, which may be regarded as a failure to address a design problem correctly. Mistakes, however, are inevitable, and misunderstanding the problems we are working on is the natural, default state of affairs. Only through engaging in a series of mistakes can we learn important things about our design problems. This study provides a case study in Many-Objective Visual Analytics (MOVA), as applied to the problem of problem discovery. It demonstrates the process of continually correcting and improving a problem formulation while visualizing its optimization results. This process produces a new, clearer understanding of the problem and puts the designer in a position to proceed with more-detailed design decisions.

ROM Based Problem Formulation in Conceptual Design: Algorithm and Case Study

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronaldo Gutierrez ◽  
Yong Zeng ◽  
Xuan Sun ◽  
Suo Tan ◽  
Xiaoguang Deng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Language ◽  
Conceptual Design ◽  
Design Problem ◽  
Quality Management System ◽  
Problem Formulation ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Design Problems ◽  
Design Algorithm ◽  
Problem Formulations

Problem formulations in natural language imply imprecision, ambiguity, incompleteness, conflict and inconsistency between requirements in a design problem. Recursive Object Model (ROM) based problem formulation in conceptual design extracts complete product requirement from design problems structured initially in natural language. Since ROM carries certain semantic and syntactic information implied in natural language, it is used to formulate a design problem through a question asking approach. The scope of this paper is to present an updated algorithm, question templates, rules and detailed procedures to ask generic questions based on ROM representations. Generic questions are needed for the clarification and extension of the meaning of a design problem in order to overcome the imprecisions, ambiguities, conflicts and inconsistencies of problem descriptions in natural language. The updated algorithm, question templates, rules and detailed procedures for asking generic questions are used in a case study to formulate the development of a Total Quality Management system (TQMS).

A User-Oriented Approach to Designing a Neck Support

2007 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 24-27
Author(s):  
A. Shekar ◽  
R. J. Billington ◽  
T. Joe
Keyword(s):  
Idea Generation ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
User Testing ◽  
Design Problems ◽  
Design Decisions ◽  
Early Design ◽  
Testing Procedures ◽  
Design Concepts ◽  
Oriented Approach

AT A GLANCE: In this article, we explore the development of a neck support for clients in salons and discuss the user-oriented approach and testing procedures. The current U-shaped neck supports in hair salons are too small to fit larger necks, do not provide cushioning, and exert uncomfortable pressure on the neck. We examined existing design problems, then created and evaluated new design concepts. This process involved the application of idea generation techniques, screening, evaluation, testing, and further design modifications. The key message from this case study is that user testing provides valuable information and confidence in the early design decisions that need to be made for successful consumer products.

Robust MDSDO for Co-Design of Stochastic Dynamic Systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeed Azad ◽  
Michael J. Alexander-Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic System ◽  
Design Optimization ◽  
System Design ◽  
Design Problem ◽  
Integrated Design ◽  
Problem Formulation ◽  
Robust Design Optimization ◽  
Design Problems ◽  
Embodiment Design ◽  
And Control

Abstract Optimization of dynamic engineering systems generally requires problem formulations that account for the coupling between embodiment design and control system design simultaneously. Such formulations are commonly known as combined optimal design and control (co-design) problems, and their application to deterministic systems is well established in the literature through a variety of methods. However, an issue that has not been addressed in the co-design literature is the impact of the inherent uncertainties within a dynamic system on its integrated design solution. Accounting for these uncertainties transforms the standard, deterministic co-design problem into a stochastic one, thus requiring appropriate stochastic optimization approaches for its solution. This paper serves as the starting point for research on stochastic co-design problems by proposing and solving a novel problem formulation based on robust design optimization (RDO) principles. Specifically, a co-design method known as multidisciplinary dynamic system design optimization (MDSDO) is used as the basis for an RDO problem formulation and implementation. The robust objective and inequality constraints are computed per usual as functions of their first-order-approximated means and variances, whereas analysis-based equality constraints are evaluated deterministically at the means of the random decision variables. The proposed stochastic co-design problem formulation is then implemented for two case studies, with the results indicating the importance of the robust approach on the integrated design solutions and performance measures.

The Four-Box Method: Problem Formulation and Analogy Evaluation in Biologically Inspired Design

2014 ◽  
Vol 136 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Helms ◽  
Ashok K. Goel
Keyword(s):  
Design Problem ◽  
Problem Formulation ◽  
Biologically Inspired ◽  
Design Problems ◽  
In Situ Observations ◽  
Box Method ◽  
Biologically Inspired Design ◽  
Search Design

Searching for biological analogies appropriate for design problems is a core process of biologically inspired design (BID). Through in situ observations of student BIDs, we discovered that student designers struggle with two issues that bookend the problem of search: design problem formulation, which generates the set of conditions to be used for search; and evaluation of the appropriateness of the retrieved analogies, which depends both on problem formulation and the retrieved analogy. We describe a method for problem formulation and analogy evaluation in BID that we call the Four-Box method. We show that the Four-Box method can be rapidly and accurately used by designers for both problem formulation and analogy evaluation, and that designers find the method valuable for the intended tasks.

Enhancing Design Problem Formulation Skills for Engineering Design Students

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Dinar ◽  
Jami J. Shah
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Problem ◽  
Mechanical Engineering ◽  
Problem Formulation ◽  
Assessment Methods ◽  
Web Tool ◽  
Design Problems ◽  
Course Work ◽  
Design Students

Problem formulation is an essential design skill for which assessment methods have been less commonly developed. In order to evaluate the progress of a group of graduate students in mechanical engineering design in regard with the problem formulation skill, they were asked to work on three design problems using the Problem Formulator web tool during their course work. Changes in a set of measures elicited from this data were examined in addition to sketches, simulations, and working prototypes. Inventories of requirements and issues, as well as concepts derived from morphological charts were created to assess designers’ skills and outcomes.

scholarly journals Mind Your Outcomes: The ∆Q approach to Quality-Centric Systems Development and Its Application to a Blockchain Case-Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyed Hossein HAERI ◽  
Peter Thompson ◽  
Neil Davies ◽  
Peter Van Roy ◽  
Kevin Hammond ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Systems Development ◽  
Software Systems ◽  
Design Decisions ◽  
Detailed Design ◽  
Distributed Software ◽  
Design And Implementation

This paper directly addresses a critical issue that affects the development of many complex distributed software systems: how to establish quickly, cheaply and reliably whether they will deliver their intended performance before expending significant time, effort and money on detailed design and implementation. We describe ΔQSD, a novel metrics-based and quality-centric paradigm that uses formalised outcome diagrams to explore the performance consequences of design decisions, as a performance blueprint of the system. The ΔQSD paradigm is both effective and generic: it allows values from various sources to be combined in a rigorous way, so that approximate results can be obtained quickly and subsequently refined. ΔQSD has been successfully used by Predictable Network Solutions for consultancy on large-scale applications in a number of industries, including telecommunications, avionics, and space and defence, resulting in cumulative savings of $Bs. The paper outlines the ΔQSD paradigm, describes its formal underpinnings, and illustrates its use via a topical real-world example taken from the blockchain/cryptocurrency domain, where application of this approach enabled an advanced distributed proof-of-stake system to meet challenging throughput targets.

Optimization of Design Margins Allocation When Making Use of Additive Remanufacturing

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Khalil Alhandawi ◽  
Massimo Panarotto ◽  
Petter Andersson ◽  
Ola Isaksson ◽  
Michael Kokkolaras
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Problem Formulation ◽  
Optimization Method ◽  
Structure Design ◽  
Design Decisions ◽  
Robust Designs ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Temperature Loads

Abstract Coping with changing requirements by means of introducing design margins may result in overdesign. In this paper, we present a design optimization method for minimizing overdesign by exploiting additive remanufacturing. Our problem formulation makes use of recently defined constituents of design margins: buffer and excess. The proposed method can be used to obtain a set of design decisions for different changing requirement scenarios. We demonstrate it using a turbine rear structure design problem where changes in the temperature loads are met by depositing different types of stiffeners on the outer casing. The results of the case study are visualized in a tradespace, which allows for comparison between sets of optimal, flexible, and robust designs. Results show that the optimized set of design decisions balances flexibility and robustness in a cost-effective manner.

Design Through Common Graph Representations

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Offer Shai
Keyword(s):  
Design Problem ◽  
Current Paper ◽  
Graph Representation ◽  
Design Problems ◽  
Graph Representations ◽  
Knowledge Transformation ◽  
A New Technique ◽  
Design Case Study ◽  
Original Domain

Current paper introduces a new technique that enables to solve design problems through their discrete mathematical models called – graph representations. When different engineering fields are represented by the same (common) graph representation, channels for knowledge transformation are paved between these fields. Current paper employs these knowledge transformation channels for design, by transforming a design problem into a design problem in another (secondary) engineering domain. Then, a search is performed in the secondary domain for existent solution. Once such solution is found, it is transformed back to the original domain through the same graph representation based channel. The paper provides a thorough design case study demonstrating the idea behind the proposed technique.

Applying TRIZ to Support Designers in a Descriptive Design Framework

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duc Truong Pham ◽  
Kok Weng Ng ◽  
Mei Choo Ang
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Design Problem ◽  
New Product ◽  
Design Framework ◽  
Design Problems ◽  
Concrete Filling

Designing a new product can be a challenging task particularly for a novice designer. This paper explores the application of TRIZ to assist a designer in performing this task within a descriptive design framework. The descriptive design framework permits the designer to track his ideas throughout the design process. The ‘technical contradiction matrix’ of TRIZ is integrated into this framework to allow it to provide support to designers. This contradiction matrix is adapted to enable designers to assign their levels of belief or preference to contradicting features to solve design problems. This preference assignment allows more emphasis to be placed on the critical features of a design problem. The proposed TRIZ-based system was tried out on a novice designer in a case study to design a scheme to support concrete filling between beams.

Robust MDSDO for Co-Design of Stochastic Dynamic Systems

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeed Azad ◽  
Michael J. Alexander-Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic System ◽  
Design Optimization ◽  
System Design ◽  
Design Problem ◽  
Integrated Design ◽  
Problem Formulation ◽  
Robust Design Optimization ◽  
Design Problems ◽  
Embodiment Design ◽  
And Control

Optimization of dynamic engineering systems generally requires problem formulations that account for the coupling between embodiment design and control system design simultaneously. Such formulations are commonly known as combined optimal design and control (co-design) problems, and their application to deterministic systems is well-established in the literature through a variety of methods. However, an issue that has not been addressed in the co-design literature is the impact of the inherent uncertainties within a dynamic system on its integrated design solution. Accounting for these uncertainties transforms the standard, deterministic co-design problem into a stochastic one, thus requiring appropriate stochastic optimization approaches for its solution. This paper serves as the starting point for research on stochastic co-design problems by proposing and solving a novel problem formulation based on robust design optimization (RDO) principles. Specifically, a co-design method known as multidisciplinary dynamic system design optimization (MDSDO) is used as the basis for a RDO problem formulation and implementation. The robust objective and inequality constraints are computed per usual as functions of their first-order-approximated means and variances, whereas analysis-based equality constraints are evaluated deterministically at the means of the random decision variables. The proposed stochastic co-design problem formulation is then implemented for two case studies, with the results indicating a significant impact of the robust approach on the integrated design solutions and performance measures.

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