Flow Path Network Design for Robust AGV Systems Against Tasks Using Competitive Coevolution

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 475-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryosuke Chiba ◽  
◽  
Tamio Arai ◽  
Jun Ota ◽  

An effective and robust flow path network is desired in Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) systems. A design process to obtain the desired flow path network in AGV systems is proposed in this paper. Our proposed method can make flow path networks robust against tasks, which include pick-up point, drop-off point and throughput and number of AGVs . It is important for this robust flow path network that the kinds of tasks be of various and non-linear to the system effectiveness. The problem is solved by the design method of various kinds of tasks that are difficult for AGV systems using Genetic Algorithm (GA). An effective flow path network is designed with GA simultaneously because the difficult tasks and number of AGVs depend on the flow path networks. Competitive coevolution is applied to the simultaneous design. AGV systems can be effective with uni/bi-directional combined flow path networks which utilize just simple routings. Results of the design are shown through simulations, and the designed flow path network makes it possible to complete various tasks with various numbers of AGVs.

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Mata ◽  
Georges Fadel ◽  
Anthony Garland ◽  
Winfried Zanker

Designers can involve users in the design process. The challenge lies in reaching multiple users and finding the best way to use their input in the design process. Affordance based design (ABD) is a design method that focuses in part on the perceived or existing interactions between the user and the artifact. The shape and physical characteristics of the product enable the user to perceive some of its affordances. The goal of this research is to use ABD, along with an optimization tool, to evolve the shape of products toward better perceived solutions using the input from users. A web application has been developed that evolves design concepts using an interactive multi-objective genetic algorithm (IGA) relying on the user assessment of product affordances. As a proof of concept, a steering wheel is designed using the application by having users rate specific affordances of solutions presented to them. The results show that the design concepts evolve toward better perceived solutions, allowing designers to explore more solutions that reflect the preferences of end users. Relationships between affordances and product design variables are also explored, revealing that specific affordances can be targeted with changes in design parameter values and highlighting the tie between physical characteristics and affordances.


Author(s):  
Timur Smetani ◽  
Elizaveta Gureva ◽  
Vyacheslav Andreev ◽  
Natalya Tarasova ◽  
Nikolai Andree

The article discusses methods for optimizing the design of the Neutron Converter research plant design with parameters that are most suitable for a particular consumer. 38 similar plant structures with different materials and sources were calculated, on the basis of which the most optimal options were found. As part of the interaction between OKBM Afrikantov JSC and the Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University named after R. E. Alekseev, the Neutron Converter research plant was designed and assembled. The universal neutron converter is a device for converting a stream of fast neutrons emitted by isotopic sources into a "standardized" value of flux density with known parameters in the volume of the central part of the product, which is the working part of the universal neutron converter. To supply neutron converters to other customer organizations (universities, research organizations and collective centers), it is necessary to take into account the experience of operating an existing facility, as well as rationalize the design process of each specific instance in accordance with the requirements of the customer.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 3266
Author(s):  
Insub Choi ◽  
Dongwon Kim ◽  
Junhee Kim

Under high gravity loads, steel double-beam floor systems need to be reinforced by beam-end concrete panels to reduce the material quantity since rotational constraints from the concrete panel can decrease the moment demand by inducing a negative moment at the ends of the beams. However, the optimal design process for the material quantity of steel beams requires a time-consuming iterative analysis for the entire floor system while especially keeping in consideration the rotational constraints in composite connections between the concrete panel and steel beams. This study aimed to develop an optimal design method with the LM (Length-Moment) index for the steel double-beam floor system to minimize material quantity without the iterative design process. The LM index is an indicator that can select a minimum cross-section of the steel beams in consideration of the flexural strength by lateral-torsional buckling. To verify the proposed design method, the material quantities between the proposed and code-based design methods were compared at various gravity loads. The proposed design method successfully optimized the material quantity of the steel double-beam floor systems without the iterative analysis by simply choosing the LM index of the steel beams that can minimize objective function while satisfying the safety-related constraint conditions. In particular, under the high gravity loads, the proposed design method was superb at providing a quantity-optimized design option. Thus, the proposed optimal design method can be an alternative for designing the steel double-beam floor system.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 4407
Author(s):  
Mbika Muteba

There is a necessity to design a three-phase squirrel cage induction motor (SCIM) for high-speed applications with a larger air gap length in order to limit the distortion of air gap flux density, the thermal expansion of stator and rotor teeth, centrifugal forces, and the magnetic pull. To that effect, a larger air gap length lowers the power factor, efficiency, and torque density of a three-phase SCIM. This should inform motor design engineers to take special care during the design process of a three-phase SCIM by selecting an air gap length that will provide optimal performance. This paper presents an approach that would assist with the selection of an optimal air gap length (OAL) and optimal capacitive auxiliary stator winding (OCASW) configuration for a high torque per ampere (TPA) three-phase SCIM. A genetic algorithm (GA) assisted by finite element analysis (FEA) is used in the design process to determine the OAL and OCASW required to obtain a high torque per ampere without compromising the merit of achieving an excellent power factor and high efficiency for a three-phase SCIM. The performance of the optimized three-phase SCIM is compared to unoptimized machines. The results obtained from FEA are validated through experimental measurements. Owing to the penalty functions related to the value of objective and constraint functions introduced in the genetic algorithm model, both the FEA and experimental results provide evidence that an enhanced torque per ampere three-phase SCIM can be realized for a large OAL and OCASW with high efficiency and an excellent power factor in different working conditions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingfeng Zhao ◽  
Jianhua Liu ◽  
Jiangtao Ma ◽  
Linlin Wu

AbstractCurrent studies on cable harness layouts have mainly focused on cable harness route planning. However, the topological structure of a cable harness is also extremely complex, and the branch structure of the cable harness can affect the route of the cable harness layout. The topological structure design of the cable harness is a key to such a layout. In this paper, a novel multi-branch cable harness layout design method is presented, which unites the probabilistic roadmap method (PRM) and the genetic algorithm. First, the engineering constraints of the cable harness layout are presented. An obstacle-based PRM used to construct non-interference and near to the surface roadmap is then described. In addition, a new genetic algorithm is proposed, and the algorithm structure of which is redesigned. In addition, the operation probability formula related to fitness is proposed to promote the efficiency of the branch structure design of the cable harness. A prototype system of a cable harness layout design was developed based on the method described in this study, and the method is applied to two scenarios to verify that a quality cable harness layout can be efficiently obtained using the proposed method. In summary, the cable harness layout design method described in this study can be used to quickly design a reasonable topological structure of a cable harness and to search for the corresponding routes of such a harness.


Author(s):  
Jan Schumann ◽  
Ulrich Harbecke ◽  
Daniel Sahnen ◽  
Thomas Polklas ◽  
Peter Jeschke ◽  
...  

The subject of the presented paper is the validation of a design method for HP and IP steam turbine stages. Common design processes have been operating with simplified design methods in order to quickly obtain feasible stage designs. Therefore, inaccuracies due to assumptions in the underlying methods have to be accepted. The focus of this work is to quantify the inaccuracy of a simplified design method compared to 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. Short computing time is very convenient in preliminary design; therefore, common design methods work with a large degree of simplification. The origin of the presented analysis is a mean line design process, dealing with repeating stage conditions. Two features of the preliminary design are the stage efficiency, based on loss correlations, and the mechanical strength, obtained by using the beam theory. Due to these simplifications, only a few input parameters are necessary to define the primal stage geometry and hence, the optimal design can easily be found. In addition, by using an implemented law to take the radial equilibrium into account, the appropriate twist of the blading can be defined. However, in comparison to the real radial distribution of flow angles, this method implies inaccuracies, especially in regions of secondary flow. In these regions, twisted blades, developed by using the simplified radial equilibrium, will be exposed to a three-dimensional flow, which is not considered in the design process. The analyzed design cases show that discrepancies at the hub and shroud section do exist, but have minor effects. Even the shroud section, with its thinner leading-edge, is not vulnerable to these unanticipated flow angles.


Author(s):  
John F. McGrew

This paper discusses a case study of a design and evaluation of a change management system at a large Telecommunications Corporation. The design and evaluation were done using the facilitated genetic algorithm (a parallel design method) and user decision style analysis. During the facilitated genetic algorithm the design team followed the procedure of the genetic algorithm. Usability was evaluated by applying user decision style analysis to the designed system. The design is compared with an existing system and with one designed by an analyst. The change management system designed by the facilitated genetic algorithm took less time to design and decision style analysis indicated it would be easier to use than the other two systems.


2013 ◽  
Vol 842 ◽  
pp. 695-702
Author(s):  
Ying Wang ◽  
You Rong Li ◽  
Yu Qiong Zhou

To enlarge production to meet the market demand, its nessasery to improve the present facility layout for MTO (Make-To-Order) manufacturing enterprises. This paper tries to design a optimization method based on genetic algorithm for the facility layout of MTO enterprises. Firstly, SLP (systematic layout planning) was applied to analyze the material and non-material flow interrelation of the workshop. Secondly, a relatively optimum layout was determined after using fuzzy hierarchy estimation to evaluate the schemes. Then the scheme was optimized with genetic algorithm. The result shows that the optimized logistics transport load is obviously less than before. This design method based on genetic algorithm (GA) is proved feasible and effective in the optimization of facility layout.


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