基于任务元的工程产品CAD信息对象集成模型

工程设计是工程技术人员根据约束条件及有关规范,利用自身经验、专业知识及一系列分析、综合、评价得到满足特定要求的设计结果所进行的一种智能活动。它是一个十分复杂的过程,一般要经历方案设计、初步设计和施工图设计三个阶段,包括设计构思、结构计算、设计细化、施工图绘制、工程概预算等。这些活动需要各类产品信息的通讯、交换和共享,因此研究协同产品信息模型十分必要。本文针对工程设计的特点,提出并建立了工程产品CAD信息对象集成模型。最后     

A meta-model for knowledge configuration management to support collaborative engineering

This paper focuses on industrial design and simulation processes especially in automotive and aerospace areas. Designers use business models (called expert models) such as CAD (computed aided design) and CAE (computed aided engineering) models to optimize and streamline the engineering process. Each expert model contains information such as parameters, expert rules, mathematic relations (parametric models, for example) which are shared by several users and in several different domains (mechanical, thermal, acoustic, fluid, etc.). This information is exploited at the same time in a concurrent engineering context. It is the basis of an imperfect collaboration process due to the fact that existing tools do not manage encapsulated information well and are unable to ensure that parameters and rules are consistent (same value of parameters for example) throughout different heterogeneous expert models. In this context, we propose an approach to manage knowledge using configurations synchronized with expert models which enable designers to use parameters consistently in a collaborative context. Our approach is called KCModel (knowledge configuration model): it allows acquisition, traceability, re-use and consistency of explicit knowledge used in configuration.     

Enabling allied concurrent engineering through distributed engineering information management

The management of engineering information to ensure that the right information is quickly provided to the right place at the right time in the right format is one of the most critical tasks in the engineering process. Within the practice of allied concurrent engineering, the importance and difficulty of engineering information management is increased due to the issues of inter-enterprise communication and process control, system heterogeneity, information and system security, differing engineering data formats and multi-database formats. This paper presents an engineering information management approach for the practice of allied concurrent engineering (ACE). An ACE-based engineering information management methodology is proposed under the concept of enterprise integration. This methodology includes an information management life cycle, a distributed management framework, and rules and methods for information management. Based on this methodology, an ACE-based engineering information system was developed using Unified Modeling Language (UML) modeling techniques. The result of this research will enable the practice of allied concurrent engineering and consequently help increase product development capability and quality, reduce development cycle time and cost, and hence increase product marketability.     

Development of a computer-aided concurrent net shape product and process development environment

This paper presents a systematic approach to developing a collaborative environment for computer-aided concurrent net shape product and process development. This approach includes the steps of (1) conventional development process analysis, (2) development process re-engineering, (3) computer-based system functional requirements analysis, (4) system framework design, and (5) system modeling, integration and implementation. This environment can support concurrent net shape product and process development by providing and integrating functions of product data management, process management and development advisory tools. The results of this research will facilitate the rationalization and automation of net shape product and process development and thus improve the efficiency and quality, and reduce the cost of net shape product development.

IDEF structural analysis methodology was employed to capture the characteristics of net shape product and process development process. The concept of concurrent engineering was used to re-engineer the development process. The technology of system engineering was used to design the computer-aided system framework. Object-oriented analysis, modeling and design methodology, knowledge engineering and data engineering techniques were employed for system modeling and implementation.     

Development of a feature-based and object-oriented concurrent engineering system

Product information modeling is critical to the integration of mechanical CAD/CAM systems and to the implementation of a concurrent engineering system. This paper presents a recent development of a feature-based and object-oriented concurrent engineering system with its focus on a product information modeling technique implemented in the system. The technique was developed to capture product definition data including form features and their spatial relationships and to store them as an object-oriented information model during the design process. The paper also describes the implementation of the information modeling technique and its application to manufacturing process planning in an object-oriented environment.     

A distributed and interactive system to integrated design and simulation for collaborative product development

The goal of applying collaborative product development in industry has raised the need to develop software tools supporting system integration and group collaboration. Current methods and tools mainly focus on the collaborative creation of design components and assemblies. However, few of them support the collaborative work in developing simulation models so that proposed design concepts and solutions can be evaluated by integrating expertise from several disciplines. The purpose of this research is to develop a distributed and interactive system on which designers and experts can work together to create, integrate and run simulations for engineering design. To develop such a system, a number of issues, e.g. effectiveness and efficiency of modeling work, the re-use of models, interaction and cooperation, accuracy of simulation, collaborative operation on models, etc., need to be addressed. This paper describes an open architecture to developing simulations for engineering design in a distributed and collaborative environment, identifies a set of key issues raised in this architecture, and presents the techniques employed in our solution.     

支持协同设计的资源库的开发研究

结合现代设计中协同工作的需求，基于Web服务、组件以及网络通信等技术，研究了支持异地产品开发的分布式设计资源库若干关键技术，包括：典型零部件库、工程材料库等主要设计资源库的建设和集成。在此基础上利用．Net框架开发实现了一个基于Web服务的设计资源库原型系统。该系统能集成机械设计常用的资源信息，并能满足分布式异构系统的互操作。     

一种面向并行工程的统一产品BOM模型*

为解决传统的串行演化过程中各种BOM之间的不一致性问题,提出一种面向并行工程的统一产品BOM模型。该模型重构组织结构,建立面向并行工程的组织体系;重构BOM过程,构建并行的BOM应用架构;分析产品生命周期所涵盖的BOM信息,提出集成化BOM信息模型,该BOM信息模型由物料项信息模型、产品结构信息模型和零件信息模型三个模型构成。实际项目应用表明,提出的面向并行工程的统一产品BOM模型是有效可行的。     

Partial encryption of feature-based product models for collaborative development

Feature-based product systems have been predominantly adopted for product development. To facilitate product development collaboration, product models need to be effectively shared among co-developers. However, in a shared model, it is challenging to preserving confidential features pertaining to intellectual property originating from the initial developer. To address the challenge, this paper presents a novel approach of partially encrypting feature-based product models to support effective collaboration. In the approach, collaborative features to support co-development, and confidential features to specify intellectual property information, are defined in a shared model. An innovative Encryption Transformation Matrix (ETM) is then designed to encode confidential features parametrically and synchronized with collaborative features as a partially encrypted product model. Finally, the approach is validated via complex case studies to demonstrate its effectiveness in industrial applications. The novelty of the approach is based on the innovative ETM design, which makes encryption processes parametric, randomized and self-adaptive. In detail, zooming and transformation variables are devised in ETM to facilitate users to manage encryption processes in a parametric means. Random probability is embedded into ETM to achieve security effectiveness in encrypted models. A self-adaptive mechanism is integrated into ETM to ensure the geometrical validity of encrypted models. The research in this paper, which supports collaborative design on real-world product models, presents a disruptive innovative potential for industrial applications.     

Using requirement-functional-logical-physical models to support early assembly process planning for complex aircraft systems integration

The assembly line process planning connects product design and manufacturing through translating design information to assembly integration sequence. The assembly integration sequence defines the aircraft system components installation and test precedence of an assembly process. This activity is part of the complex systems integration and verification process from a systems engineering view. In this paper, the complexity of modern aircraft is defined by classifying aircraft system interactions in terms of energy flow, information data, control signals and physical connections. At the early conceptual design phase of assembly line planning, the priority task is to understand these product complexities, and generate the installation and test sequence that satisfies the designed system function and meet design requirements. This research proposes a novel method for initial assembly process planning that accounts for both physical and functional integrations. The method defines aircraft system interactions by using systems engineering concepts based on traceable RFLP (Requirement, Functional, Logical and Physical) models and generate the assembly integration sequence through a structured approach. The proposed method is implemented in an industrial software environment, and tested in a case study. The result shows the feasibility and potential benefits of the proposed method.     

Role-based viewing envelopes for information protection in collaborative modeling

Information security and assurance are new frontiers for collaborative design. In this context, information assurance (IA) refers to methodologies to protect engineering information by ensuring its availability, confidentiality, integrity, non-repudiation, authentication, access control, etc. In collaborative design, IA techniques are needed to protect intellectual property, establish security privileges and create ‘need to know’ protections on critical features. Aside from 3D watermarking, research on how to provide IA to distributed collaborative engineering teams is largely non-existent.This paper provides a framework for IA within collaborative design. It is based on a technique we call role-based viewing, which is achieved through integration of multi-resolution geometry and security models. In this way, 3D models are geometrically partitioned, and the partitioning is used to create multi-resolution mesh hierarchies that obscure, obfuscate, or remove sensitive material from the view of users without appropriate permissions. This approach is the basis for our prototype system FACADE (the Framework for Accesscontrol in Computer-Aided Design Environments), a synchronous multi-user collaborative modeling environment. In FACADE, groups of users work in a shared 3D modeling environment in which each user's viewing and modeling privileges are managed by a central access control mechanism. In this manner, individual users see only the data they are allowed to see, at the level of detail they are permitted to see it.     

The metadatabase approach to integrating and managing manufacturing information systems

Integration has become a self-evident goal in today's manufacturing enterprises. Since the late 1970s, numerous efforts have been launched world-wide to develop, employ, and deploy integration technology as a strategic weapon to compete in the global market-place. Important results have been obtained, including computer integrated manufacturing (CIM), concurrent engineering, and enterprise re-engineering. The field is poised to tackle some fundamental barriers of integration and thereby effect a new quantum jump in overall productivity, where information will become a fourth basic factor of production along with land, labor and capital. Among the barriers are the lack of information technology enabling multiple systems operating concurrently over different geographical regions. This paper discusses a unique approach to the integration problem regarding information resources management, global query and concurrent systems administration. This approach is based on the metadatabase model which incorporates both data and knowledge in order to accomplish information integration across manufacturing functions. Basic concepts, methods and techniques have been developed for the approach and verified via a prototype metadatabase system. The system's primary components and major functionalities are discussed and illustrated in detail through the use of an extended example of a pilot manufacturing system comprising order processing, process design and shop floor control. It will also provide the reader with a simulated system demonstration.A preliminary version of this paper was presented to the Third International Conference on Computer Integrated Manufacturing, May 1992.     

A framework for product data

IT support for engineering involves the integration of existing, evolving and future product data, and software that processes that data. Thus, there is increasing interest in the representation of product data in the computer to support CAE applications. To avoid duplication and inconsistency, and to support the use of new implementation technology as it emerges, conceptual models of product data are required. Such models are independent of the software and hardware environments in which they are implemented. System architectures to support the integration of applications at implementation time are becoming an accepted part of engineering information systems. To use these software support environments effectively, integrated product data is required. It must also be possible to extend the integrated product data in a controlled fashion if it is to evolve to support future engineering applications effectively. A framework that is a part of the product data at the conceptual modeling stage helps to satisfy these requirements. The framework presented is a structure for the information content of product data rather than for the implementation of such data. Product data based on the framework can be successfully implemented in a number of different database forms. This paper describes a framework for electromechanical product data that has been implemented in a structure editor and is being used to support a range of engineering applications. The process of product data integration can be improved by using existing integration strategies together with a framework that provides an overall organization for the data     

Cloud-based design and manufacturing: A new paradigm in digital manufacturing and design innovation

Cloud-based design manufacturing (CBDM) refers to a service-oriented networked product development model in which service consumers are enabled to configure, select, and utilize customized product realization resources and services ranging from computer-aided engineering software to reconfigurable manufacturing systems. An ongoing debate on CBDM in the research community revolves around several aspects such as definitions, key characteristics, computing architectures, communication and collaboration processes, crowdsourcing processes, information and communication infrastructure, programming models, data storage, and new business models pertaining to CBDM. One question, in particular, has often been raised: is cloud-based design and manufacturing actually a new paradigm, or is it just “old wine in new bottles”? To answer this question, we discuss and compare the existing definitions for CBDM, identify the essential characteristics of CBDM, define a systematic requirements checklist that an idealized CBDM system should satisfy, and compare CBDM to other relevant but more traditional collaborative design and distributed manufacturing systems such as web- and agent-based design and manufacturing systems. To justify the conclusion that CBDM can be considered as a new paradigm that is anticipated to drive digital manufacturing and design innovation, we present the development of a smart delivery drone as an idealized CBDM example scenario and propose a corresponding CBDM system architecture that incorporates CBDM-based design processes, integrated manufacturing services, information and supply chain management in a holistic sense.     

Information Model for Product Modeling

The Key problems in product modeling for integrated CAD ∥CAM systems are the information structures and representations of products.They are taking more and more important roles in engineering applications.With the investigation on engineering product information and from the viewpoint of industrial process,in this paper,the information models are proposed and the definitions of the framework of product information are given.And then,the integration and the consistence of product information are discussed by introucing the entity and its instance.As a summary,the information structures described in this paper have many advantage and natures helpful in engineering design.     

基于网格服务的协同设计平台的设计

为充分利用产品设计合作企业的资源和个体优势,更好地支持企业产品协同设计,从协同设计平台功能需求出发,研究了基于网格服务的协同设计平台的体系结构、资源集成与共享、网格服务实现、网格门户实现等关键技术,构建了基于网格服务的协同设计平台.该平台通过开放网格服务框架,实现了合作企业软件集成和设计资源共享,提高了资源的利用率和产品设计的质量.最后通过机械产品协同设计表明了该平台的有效性.     

A knowledge intensive multi-agent framework for cooperative/collaborative design modeling and decision support of assemblies

Multi-agent modeling has emerged as a promising discipline for dealing with decision making process in distributed information system applications. One of such applications is the modeling of distributed design or manufacturing processes which can link up various designs or manufacturing processes to form a virtual consortium on a global basis. This paper proposes a novel knowledge intensive multi-agent cooperative/collaborative framework for concurrent intelligent design and assembly planning, which integrates product design, design for assembly, assembly planning, assembly system design, and assembly simulation subjected to econo-technical evaluations. An AI protocol based method is proposed to facilitate the integration of intelligent agents for assembly design, planning, evaluation and simulation process. A unified class of knowledge intensive Petri nets is defined using the O-O knowledge-based Petri net approach and used as an AI protocol for handling both the integration and the negotiation problems among multi-agents. The detailed cooperative/collaborative mechanism and algorithms are given based on the knowledge objects cooperation formalisms. As such, the assembly-oriented design system can easily be implemented under the multi-agent-based knowledge-intensive Petri net framework with concurrent integration of multiple cooperative knowledge sources and software. Thus, product design and assembly planning can be carried out simultaneously and intelligently in an entirely computer-aided concurrent design and assembly planning system.     

Automating the product derivation process of multi-agent systems product lines

Agent-oriented software engineering and software product lines are two promising software engineering techniques. Recent research work has been exploring their integration, namely multi-agent systems product lines (MAS-PLs), to promote reuse and variability management in the context of complex software systems. However, current product derivation approaches do not provide specific mechanisms to deal with MAS-PLs. This is essential because they typically encompass several concerns (e.g., trust, coordination, transaction, state persistence) that are constructed on the basis of heterogeneous technologies (e.g., object-oriented frameworks and platforms). In this paper, we propose the use of multi-level models to support the configuration knowledge specification and automatic product derivation of MAS-PLs. Our approach provides an agent-specific architecture model that uses abstractions and instantiation rules that are relevant to this application domain. In order to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach, we have implemented it as an extension of an existing product derivation tool, called GenArch. The approach has also been evaluated through the automatic instantiation of two MAS-PLs, demonstrating its potential and benefits to product derivation and configuration knowledge specification.