A Computer Framework for Robust Concept Exploration in a Distributed Environment

The Robust Concept Exploration Method (RCEM) facilitates generation of robust top-level design specifications in the early stages of a design process. The RCEM is used for quickly evaluating various design alternatives and finding a good quality solution. The method aids in minimization of expensive design iterations by using various statistical techniques. The method is an integration of experiment design techniques, approximate modeling techniques and robust design techniques providing a domain independent method for efficient generation of robust design solutions to design problems. The method is divided into a number of steps that are carried out using various software tools. These tools include generic statistical modeling tools and domain specific simulation tools that are not necessarily available on a single location and may have prohibitive costs. Our goal in this paper is to present a computer framework for carrying out RCEM in a distributed environment by using software tools as services facilitating pay per use. We present X-DPR framework that is used for integrating steps in the RCEM process using software tools as agents providing some service to a remote user. The applicability of the framework in other design scenarios is also discussed. 1. FRAME OF REFERENCE The increasing focus on reducing product development time is forcing designers to move in the direction of concurrent engineering. Based on the concurrent engineering principles, the design of a competitive system requires the prediction of system responses and performance with high fidelity. Prediction of system responses is often performed by domain specific simulation software. Although there is recently a lot of improvement in computing technology in terms of processing speeds, the complexity of simulation routines is also increasing. The computational time for analysis of large systems still remains non-trivial. In the spirit of reducing the development time, Chen et al. [1] have developed techniques to gain more knowledge about a system by performing minimal simulation runs. Chen and coauthors [2] have developed a Robust Concept Exploration Method (RCEM) for making robust decisions in the initial design stages, so that subsequent changes in the design have little effect on the design. RCEM is being used in the design of robust systems. The term robustness in this context has a two-fold meaning – robustness against the factors that are outside the control of a designer and robustness against design decisions that are yet to be made downstream the design process. RCEM has been used in a number of robust design applications like design of aircrafts [3], materials [4], vehicle bodies [5], etc. In addition to robust decision-making, another important aspect in reducing product development time through concurrent engineering is the ability to use resources distributed across the globe. Design of complex products is multidisciplinary, requiring distributed engineers with diverse capabilities to interact with each other and work collaboratively. It is required that the engineers be able to use tools available at distributed locations over the Internet. To facilitate the use of distributed resources, a number of softwarebased frameworks are developed [6-9]. These frameworks provide capability of integrating software tools and automate the information flow between software tools. However, the frameworks have some * Graduate Research Assistant ¶ Associate Professor # Senior Research Scientist ** Professor and Corresponding Author. Email: [email protected]. Phone/fax: (404) 894-8412/9342