Form synthesis at early embodiment design stage: A computer-aided method to model preliminary embodiment designs

不同方面的使用参数化三维CAD软件，e。G.“限制思维”或WIMP用户界面限制了产品开发人员的创造力，并因此限制了初步实施例设计的范围。因此，该软件并不代表用于在早期实施例设计阶段进行形式合成的最佳工具。同时，早期的计算机辅助创建初步的具体设计包含了巨大的潜力，以提高产品质量。就前置而言，如果几何信息（与手绘草图相反）以计算形式提供，则可以在设计过程的早期确保产品及其功能和质量。基于这种考虑，本项目的研究问题出现了：一个计算方法应该是什么样子的，以支持产品开发人员在早期的体现设计阶段的创新形式设计？一种常用的方法是利用虚拟现实中的自然交互形式。虽然研究的目的是集成CAD和VR -特别是在自由形式的创建的上下文中-存在，没有注意到通过自然的，基于隐性知识的用户界面的交互，以及从有效区域和有效机构开始的初步实施方案设计的形式设计。因此，为期两年的研究项目的中心目标是提供一种通用的方法，使产品开发人员能够通过一个功能程序，在造型设计研究和初步实施方案设计的创造性准备方面的早期计算机支持。该方法包含具有表单设计元素的模块化套件。这些元素用作创建初步实施例设计的基本构建块。对于与虚拟模型的交互，使用用于自然手指交互的现有用户界面。这是在研究演示系统“i 3 VR”在埃尔朗根-纽伦堡大学的机械工程系实施。为了实现中心目标，需要四个次级目标。由此导出了四个工作包的内容。工作计划和工作包的结构遵循Blessing和Chakrabarti的设计研究方法（DRM）。该研究项目的预期科学发现是关于计算机辅助方法适用于使用自然形式的交互和立体可视化的初步实施方案设计的形式合成的证据。

Different aspects of the use of parametric 3D CAD software, e. g. "circumscribed thinking" or the WIMP user interface, limit the creativity of the product developer and consequently the scope of the preliminary embodiment designs. Thus the software does not represent an optimal tool for form synthesis at early embodiment design stage. Simultaneously the early, computer-aided creation of preliminary embodiment designs incorporates enormous potential to improve the product quality. In terms of frontloading, the product as well as its functionality and quality could be ensured earlier in the design process, if the geometry information - in contrast to hand-drawn sketches - would be available in a computational form. Based on this consideration the research question of this project emerges: How must a computational method look like to support the product developer in creative form design at early embodiment design stage?A frequently used approach is the utilisation of natural forms of interaction in Virtual Reality. Although research with the objective to integrate CAD and VR – especially in context of freeform creation – exists, no attention is paid to the interaction through natural, tacit knowledge based user interfaces as well as to form design of preliminary embodiment designs starting with effective areas and effective bodies. Therefore the central objective of the two-year research project is to provide a universal method that allows an earlier computer support of the product developer in the creative preparation of form design studies and preliminary embodiment designs through a functional procedure in terms of VDI 2221 Step 5. The method contains a modular kit with form design elements. These elements serve as basic building blocks for the creation of preliminary embodiment designs. For the interaction with virtual models, an existing user interface for natural finger interaction is used. This was implemented in the research demonstration system "i 3 VR" at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. In order to achieve the central objective, four sub-objectives are necessary. Thereof the content of the four work packages is derived. The structure of the work programme and work packages follows the Design Research Methodology (DRM) from Blessing and Chakrabarti.The expected scientific finding resulting from this research project is evidence about the suitability of a computer-aided method for form synthesis of preliminary embodiment designs using natural forms of interaction and stereoscopic visualisation.