Engineering Research Equipment: Development of an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) Based Clustered Platform for Integrated Design

该奖项将为网络和计算设备提供资金，这些设备将致力于支持工程研究。 设备包括异步传输模式（ATM）硬件（三个交换机沿着，带有一组适当的工作站网络接口卡）以及计算机工作站。 该硬件将使研究人员能够在大学网络的隔离子网上建立基于ATM的集群计算平台。 将开发一个实验室来研究基于集群的计算及其在多学科设计问题中的应用。 这些设备将用于合作研究项目，这些项目将有助于推进和扩展集成工程（IE）新兴领域的知识和技术，特别是在开发基于ATM的并行设计集群网络战略方面。 ATM正在成为广域网多媒体通信的事实标准，对信息高速公路的成功至关重要。 基于ATM的集群计算平台将创建一个工业微观世界，其中集成的并行工程设计策略和独特的网络协议将被开发和测试。 该实验室将用于：（1）开发基于ATM的集成设计网络框架，以支持协作设计和决策;（2）开发设计策略，以降低集成系统的复杂性（3）开发和测试基于分解的策略，这些策略适应离散和连续变量，以实现最佳系统设计;（4）通过纳入嵌入式专家系统能力，改进基础设施的模块化;（5）为工业工程环境实施和验证传输和网络级协议;以及（6）进一步开发和测试工业应用的设计策略和通信协议。

This award will provide funding for networking and computing equipment that will be dedicated to support research in engineering. Equipment includes Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) hardware (three switches along with the appropriate set of workstation network interface cards), as well as computer workstations. This hardware will enable researchers to establish an ATM-based cluster computing platform on an isolated subnet of the university network. A laboratory will be developed for the study of cluster-based computing and its application to multidisciplinary design problems. The equipment will be used for collaborative research projects that will contribute to the advancement and expansion of the knowledge and technology based in the emerging area of Integration Engineering (IE), particularly with respect to development of ATM-based cluster networking strategies for Concurrent Design. ATM is becoming the defacto standard for multimedia communications for Wide Area Networks and will be crucial for the success of the Information Superhighway. The ATM-based cluster computing platform will create an industrial microcosm in which integrated, concurrent engineering design strategies and unique networking protocols will be developed and tested. This laboratory will be used for: (1) development of an ATM-based networking framework for Integrated Design that supports Collaborative Design and Decision-making; (2) development of design strategies to reduce integrated system complexities (system reduction strategies); (3) development and testing of decomposition-based strategies that accommodate discrete as well as continuous variables for optimal system design; (4) improvement of infrastructure modularity through incorporation of embedded expert systems capabilities; (5) implementation and verification of transport and network level protocols for the IE environment; and (6) further development and testing of the design strategies and communication protocols for industry applications.