TY - GEN
T1 - Ideas-Generator for Conceptual Design using Evolution Strategies
AU - Hehenberger, Peter
AU - Punz, Stefan
AU - Zeman, Klaus
PY - 2007
Y1 - 2007
N2 - Conceptual Design is one of the most important phases during the product development process, as the main characteristics, properties and costs of the solution and consequently also the main portions of success of the new product are pre-determined there. During this design phase the assistance of a computer aided software tool to the design engineer is desirable for the task of finding principal solutions. In our contribution the application of evolution strategies to typical conceptual design problems is examined using standard algorithms and tools. As a result of this approach, two important advantages arise. First of all, alternative effect chains may be established and secondly, it is possible to evaluate the concepts found, and to select the best of them with respect to a suitable choice of weighting factors for the relevant criteria. Only those solutions are generated and selected, which correspond best to the specified criteria of the multi-requirements problem. The presented approach was realized in a first software prototype using Matlab. It is shown by means of some significant examples, that evolutionary algorithms are useful for the generation and pre-evaluation of principal solutions during the concept phase of product development processes. The possibilities of generating different design concepts via evolution strategies will be demonstrated by a case study.
AB - Conceptual Design is one of the most important phases during the product development process, as the main characteristics, properties and costs of the solution and consequently also the main portions of success of the new product are pre-determined there. During this design phase the assistance of a computer aided software tool to the design engineer is desirable for the task of finding principal solutions. In our contribution the application of evolution strategies to typical conceptual design problems is examined using standard algorithms and tools. As a result of this approach, two important advantages arise. First of all, alternative effect chains may be established and secondly, it is possible to evaluate the concepts found, and to select the best of them with respect to a suitable choice of weighting factors for the relevant criteria. Only those solutions are generated and selected, which correspond best to the specified criteria of the multi-requirements problem. The presented approach was realized in a first software prototype using Matlab. It is shown by means of some significant examples, that evolutionary algorithms are useful for the generation and pre-evaluation of principal solutions during the concept phase of product development processes. The possibilities of generating different design concepts via evolution strategies will be demonstrated by a case study.
KW - Conceptual Design
KW - Evolutionary algorithms
KW - Function structures
KW - Ideas-generator
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84862598305&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
SN - 1904670024
SN - 9781904670025
T3 - Proceedings of ICED 2007, the 16th International Conference on Engineering Design
BT - Proceedings of ICED 2007, the 16th International Conference on Engineering Design
T2 - ICED 07, 16th International Conference on Engineering Design
Y2 - 28 August 2007 through 31 August 2007
ER -