Research Initiation Award: A Virtual Environment for Engineering Design Optimization

本研究的目的是开发一种技术，使设计师在设计优化过程中发挥积极作用。本研究将基于灵敏度分析的快速优化方法与虚拟现实技术相结合，为设计优化提供了一种交互式方法。需要快速优化方法，以便在交互式时间框架内研究大型设计问题。虚拟现实技术为设计师提供了一个交互式的环境来研究多种设计变化。让设计师在设计过程中保持活跃，可以让设计师利用他/她对问题的所有先验知识，及时找到可行的、最佳的解决方案。设计是一个相互作用的过程，经常涉及在相互竞争的性能标准之间进行权衡。例如，设计师努力设计既轻便又坚固的车辆。大型结构系统的设计是通过复杂的优化软件来完成的。目前，设计人员与优化过程的交互仅限于问题定义的初始阶段，其中设计人员指定目标函数，设计参数和约束条件。随着设计过程的进行，设计目标和约束条件往往会根据设计师的经验进行修改，以获得可行的解决方案。

The objective of this research is to develop a technique that allows a designer to play an active role in the design optimization process. This research combines fast optimization methods, based on sensitivity analysis, with virtual reality techniques to provide an interactive method for design optimization. Fast optimization methods are needed to allow large design problems to be investigated in an interactive time frame. Virtual reality techniques provide an interactive environment for the designer to investigate multiple design changes. Keeping the designer active in the design process allows the designer to use all of his/her prior knowledge about the problem to be brought to bear to achieve a viable, optimal solution to the problem in a timely manner. Design is an interactive process that often involves trade- offs between competing performance criteria. For example, designers strive to design vehicles that are both lightweight and strong. Design of large structural systems is accomplished through the aid of sophisticated optimization software. Currently, the interaction a designer has with the optimization process is limited to the initial stages of problem definition, where the designer specifies an objective function, design parameters, and constraints. As the design process progresses, design objectives and constraints are often modified based on the designer's experience, in order to achieve a viable solution.