Re-Imagining Engineering Design: Growing Radical Cyber-Physical-Socio Phenotypes
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen's University Belfast
Department Name: Sch Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Abstract
The fundamental goal of this proposal is to Re-Imagine Design Engineering so that new ideas and concepts are generated rapidly, and where both the product and its associated manufacturing system (including its supply chain and people) are designed concurrently and fully tailored to each other. By doing this the >70% of lifecycle and supply chain costs that are "locked in" at the concept design stage can be understood, minimised and verified.
This programme will target the transformation of Design Engineering via Interoperable Cyber-Physical-Social (CPS) Services in which: (i) engineering competences and multiscale physics are integrated by innovative digital capabilities, (ii) advanced analytics support capture of knowledge, enhance resilience and predict compliance by interoperable 'smart testing' and fully simulated lifecycle analyses to validate model-centric designs, (iii) novel business/supply chain models provide a transparent value stream from digital design through to manufacturing and pathways to ensure the UK develops the next generation of digital engineering talent. Our vision of the future where manufacturing systems are self-organising, self-aware and distributed, brings a radically different manufacturing industry than exists today.
This leads naturally to identifying four major research challenges to this programme:
1. Interoperability - CPS Design Theory: How can we generate ideas and concepts rapidly such that artefacts are designed concurrently with manufacturing systems to create resilient extended enterprises with open communication throughout the whole system?
2. The Cyber World - CPS Modelling Design & Manufacture: How can we represent concepts virtually such that key design characteristics driving intended behaviour are understood, coded and realised via robust, intelligently manufactured product variants?
3. The Physical World - CPS Concept to Reality: What verification and validation concepts are needed to find the shortest and most beneficial pathway to physical realisation aided by a cyber-physical-socio manufacturing ecosystem?
4. The Socio World - CPS The Extended Manufacturing Enterprise: How can we translate and exploit concepts in new organisational structures within a cyber-physical-socio ecosystem to accelerate evolution of design solutions across extended enterprises?
The four technical challenges are integrated and pose interdependent challenges. They form the four threads which are to be woven together in this programme. A range of approaches for modelling, evaluation and prediction are needed for the whole programme, and dealing with such diverse system entities from simulation models to individual human and business organisations necessitates a diversity of technical approaches.
The concept of 'cyber-genes' and 'cyber-seeds' that can be used in an evolutionary approach form the core thread to provide a new CPS design theory but requires significant interlinkage with the other aspects. For example, CAD models in the cyber world are sufficient for some products, but in general systems are multi-functional and multi-disciplinary and will require a range of modelling methods to provide the necessary design evaluation data, such as with whole life costing. Similarly, although possible to communicate with manufacturing (e.g. CNC machines), feedback of intelligent data directly into a live design is not yet done, and new methods are needed in both design systems and the organisation to allow this capability. Overlaying evolutionary algorithms to these will necessarily require all elements to be adapted and changed, as both the system and underlying methods evolve. Therefore, these nature analogous processes and a range of alternative approaches (e.g. fractals, agent-based systems, response surface methodologies etc.) will be explored.
This programme will target the transformation of Design Engineering via Interoperable Cyber-Physical-Social (CPS) Services in which: (i) engineering competences and multiscale physics are integrated by innovative digital capabilities, (ii) advanced analytics support capture of knowledge, enhance resilience and predict compliance by interoperable 'smart testing' and fully simulated lifecycle analyses to validate model-centric designs, (iii) novel business/supply chain models provide a transparent value stream from digital design through to manufacturing and pathways to ensure the UK develops the next generation of digital engineering talent. Our vision of the future where manufacturing systems are self-organising, self-aware and distributed, brings a radically different manufacturing industry than exists today.
This leads naturally to identifying four major research challenges to this programme:
1. Interoperability - CPS Design Theory: How can we generate ideas and concepts rapidly such that artefacts are designed concurrently with manufacturing systems to create resilient extended enterprises with open communication throughout the whole system?
2. The Cyber World - CPS Modelling Design & Manufacture: How can we represent concepts virtually such that key design characteristics driving intended behaviour are understood, coded and realised via robust, intelligently manufactured product variants?
3. The Physical World - CPS Concept to Reality: What verification and validation concepts are needed to find the shortest and most beneficial pathway to physical realisation aided by a cyber-physical-socio manufacturing ecosystem?
4. The Socio World - CPS The Extended Manufacturing Enterprise: How can we translate and exploit concepts in new organisational structures within a cyber-physical-socio ecosystem to accelerate evolution of design solutions across extended enterprises?
The four technical challenges are integrated and pose interdependent challenges. They form the four threads which are to be woven together in this programme. A range of approaches for modelling, evaluation and prediction are needed for the whole programme, and dealing with such diverse system entities from simulation models to individual human and business organisations necessitates a diversity of technical approaches.
The concept of 'cyber-genes' and 'cyber-seeds' that can be used in an evolutionary approach form the core thread to provide a new CPS design theory but requires significant interlinkage with the other aspects. For example, CAD models in the cyber world are sufficient for some products, but in general systems are multi-functional and multi-disciplinary and will require a range of modelling methods to provide the necessary design evaluation data, such as with whole life costing. Similarly, although possible to communicate with manufacturing (e.g. CNC machines), feedback of intelligent data directly into a live design is not yet done, and new methods are needed in both design systems and the organisation to allow this capability. Overlaying evolutionary algorithms to these will necessarily require all elements to be adapted and changed, as both the system and underlying methods evolve. Therefore, these nature analogous processes and a range of alternative approaches (e.g. fractals, agent-based systems, response surface methodologies etc.) will be explored.
Organisations
- Queen's University Belfast (Lead Research Organisation)
- LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- IBS Precision Engineering (Collaboration)
- OxMet Technologies (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Rolls Royce Group Plc (Collaboration)
- Airbus Group (Collaboration)
- BOMBARDIER INC. (Collaboration)
- National Composites Centre (NCC) (Collaboration)
- FAR-UK Ltd (Collaboration)
- Glen Dimplex (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF YORK (Collaboration)
- Denroy Group Ltd (Collaboration)
- JW Kane Precision Engineering (Project Partner)
- Bombardier Aerospace (Project Partner)
- Denroy Plastics Limited (Project Partner)
- Airbus (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Rolls-Royce (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Far (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Manufacturing Technology Centre (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- GlenDimplex (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- ITI (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
Publications
Friel I
(2021)
A Novel Design System for Exploiting Additive Manufacturing
Van-Lopik K
(2023)
A review of design frameworks for human-cyber-physical systems moving from industry 4 to 5
in IET Cyber-Physical Systems: Theory & Applications
Zhao Y
(2022)
Color Alignment for Relative Color Constancy via Non-Standard References.
in IEEE transactions on image processing : a publication of the IEEE Signal Processing Society
Torres-Sanchez C
(2022)
Comparison of Selective Laser Melted Commercially Pure Titanium Sheet-Based Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces and Trabecular-Like Strut-Based Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering
in Advanced Engineering Materials
Torres-Sanchez C
(2021)
Comparison of Selective Laser Melted Commercially Pure Titanium Sheet-Based Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces and Trabecular-Like Strut-Based Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering
in Advanced Engineering Materials
Simpson T
(2022)
EEG Correlates of Driving Performance
in IEEE Transactions on Human-Machine Systems
Torres-Sanchez C
(2023)
Electrochemical removal of secondary roughness on selective laser melted titanium with an ethylene-glycol-based electrolyte
in Materials Letters
Hickinbotham S
(2022)
Evolving Design Modifiers
Yang Y
(2021)
Gap volume prediction for aircraft wing assembly
in Procedia Manufacturing
Shannon T
(2022)
Generalized Bezier components and successive component refinement using moving morphable components
in Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization
Price M
(2022)
Generative design for additive manufacturing using a biological development analogy
in Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
Colligan A
(2022)
Hierarchical CADNet: Learning from B-Reps for Machining Feature Recognition
in Computer-Aided Design
Simpson T
(2021)
Investigating the P300 Response as a Marker of Working Memory in Virtual Training Environments
in IEEE Transactions on Human-Machine Systems
Dubey R
(2023)
Local Fitness Landscape Exploration Based Genetic Algorithms
in IEEE Access
Torres-Sanchez C
(2023)
Multidimensional analysis for the correlation of physico-chemical attributes to osteoblastogenesis in TiNbZrSnTa alloys
in Biomaterials Advances
Pantazis D
(2023)
Predicting electrical power consumption of end milling using a virtual machining energy toolkit (V_MET)
in Computers in Industry
Brice D
(2021)
Using Ultrasonic Haptics Within an Immersive Spider Exposure Environment to Provide a Multi-Sensorial Experience
in Frontiers in Virtual Reality
Description | Advanced Design Methods |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | This course brings the latest thinking in design methods giving engineering students new skills in carrying out design and understanding how to deal with ambiguity in complex decision making processes, including using advanced tools such as AI in engineering design processes. A range of design frameworks are discussed and explored within the context of general problem solving and applied to simple cases. Tools to support design are discussed and in particular the latest developments in inclusive design, generative design systems and bio-inspired design provide a backdrop for an innovative design exercise. |
URL | https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/aerospace-engineering-meng-h402/#modules |
Description | Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC) - Belfast Region City Deal |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
Description | Campaign for Science and Engineering |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
URL | https://www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/analysis-and-publications/report/ |
Description | Certificate in Advanced Design Thinking |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Description | Jet Zero Council Delivery Subgroup |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
URL | https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/news/jet-zero-council-zero-emission-flight-delivery-subgroups-meet-for-the-fi... |
Description | Biohaviour - The Green Engine |
Amount | £27,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Rolls Royce Group Plc |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2022 |
End | 09/2025 |
Description | High Entropy Alloys: Design, Manufacture and Validation for their application in various industrial sectors |
Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Alloyed |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2021 |
End | 09/2024 |
Title | Supporting Information Files for: Comparison of SLM cpTi sheet-TPMS and trabecular-like strut-based scaffolds for tissue engineering |
Description | Supporting Information Files for: Comparison of SLM cpTi sheet-TPMS and trabecular-like strut-based scaffolds for tissue engineeringThis systematic comparison between sheet-based-TPMS and strut-based ordered and disordered Lattice topologies offers insights into parametric designs for tissue engineering scaffolds intended as implants in regenerative medicine. The study explores the effect of topology on compressive properties and in vitro osteoblastogenesis. TPMS-sheet Gyroid and IWP, Voronoi-tessellation with varying levels of sharpness and BCC-orthogonal Lattices were studied. Disparities between the design intent and the as-manufactured scaffolds that are intrinsic to the SLM manufacturing process are considered to ensure actual porosity and surface-area-per-unit-volume, two important factors in tissue engineering, are consistent across the set. Surface analysis reports the presence of a micro-porosity created by partlysintered cpTi particles. The TPMS topologies display a stretching-dominated deformation and the strut-based disordered ones a bending-dominated double-shear failure. Although the trabecular-like structures exhibit an enhanced compressive behaviour when the designed topology was smoothed, they are more prone to printing imperfections with the sharper 2 finishes. The in vitro studies reveal that the trabecular-sharp topology displays a faster proliferation rate, explained by concavity-driven cellular growth, but its smooth counterpart promotes a larger differentiation extent, outperforming TPMS, as it is aided by larger pore throats lined with a micro-porosity at the scale of osteoblastic geometric features. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Supporting_Information_Files_for_Comparison_of_SLM_c... |
Description | Airbus |
Organisation | Airbus Group |
Department | Airbus Operations |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We have been exploring ideas for new design methods for airframe structures. |
Collaborator Contribution | Airbus have provided advice and guidance, and access to facilities. |
Impact | Papers as per the publications list. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Glen Dimplex |
Organisation | Glen Dimplex |
Country | Ireland |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Working with the Dimplex design team to explore new innovative design solutions for some of their products. |
Collaborator Contribution | Providing guidance and feedback, and commercial example test cases. |
Impact | N/A |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Loughborough University |
Organisation | Loughborough University |
Department | Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The Wolfson School and our team have partnered to tackle interdiscplinary challenges in engineering design. Our team brings geometry and design systems and processes skills and key industry partners from aerospace. |
Collaborator Contribution | The Wolfson School brings expertise in manufacturing systems and embedded intelligence and key industry partners from automotive and medical devices. |
Impact | None yet - main work programme is just beginning. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Partnership with the National Composites Centre (NCC) on Certified Design Processes |
Organisation | National Composites Centre (NCC) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Defining joint projects to explore avenues where the new design tools emerging from RIED can be directly integrated into today's design processes. |
Collaborator Contribution | Defining joint projects to explore avenues where the new design tools emerging from RIED can be directly integrated into today's design processes. Industrial needs and common practices are brought in by our partners to guide activity and potential opportunities for impact. |
Impact | A joint project is now underway to create directly usable tools for industry from the RIED research programme. Additionally, a Fellowhip proposal to EPSRC was supported which entails a series of activities over 5 years to fast rack industrial uptake of the research work. |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | RIED - Bombardier Aerospace (now Spirit Aerosystems) |
Organisation | Bombardier Inc. |
Department | Bombardier United Kingdom |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | QUB brings skills and new ideas in engineering design systems and a suite of partners interested in generic problems. |
Collaborator Contribution | Bombardier bring expertise in manufacturing and challenging manufacturing problems. |
Impact | None yet. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | RIED - Denroy Plastics |
Organisation | Denroy Group Ltd |
Department | Denroy Plastics Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | The research team is providing skills and new ideas in engineering design. |
Collaborator Contribution | Denroy bring practical industrial skills and advice in engineering design practice as well as challenging industrial manufacturing problems. |
Impact | None yet. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | RIED - FAR UK Ltd |
Organisation | FAR-UK Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | QUB brings skills and new ideas in engineering design and geometry handling and a wider partnership with shared interest in design. |
Collaborator Contribution | FAR-UK Ltd bring expertise in manufacturing and challenging engineering design and manufacturing problems. |
Impact | None yet. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | RIED - JW Kane Precision Engineering |
Organisation | IBS Precision Engineering |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | QUB brings new ideas and skills in design and a wider partnership interested in common challenges in aerospace manufacturing. |
Collaborator Contribution | Kane Engineering bring manufacturing expertise and challenging problems. |
Impact | None yet. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | RIED - JW Kane Precision Engineering |
Organisation | IBS Precision Engineering |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | QUB brings new ideas and skills in design and a wider partnership interested in common challenges in aerospace manufacturing. |
Collaborator Contribution | Kane Engineering bring manufacturing expertise and challenging problems. |
Impact | None yet. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | RIED - OxMet Technologies |
Organisation | OxMet Technologies |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | QUB brings skills and new ideas in engineering design and geometry handling. |
Collaborator Contribution | OxMet bring challenging industrial problems. |
Impact | None yet. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Rolls Royce |
Organisation | Rolls Royce Group Plc |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | New methods for modifying, generating and using design geometry and analysis models. |
Collaborator Contribution | expert advice and guidance. |
Impact | as per publications list |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | University of York |
Organisation | University of York |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have partnered with complementary expertise. QUB provides the growth models for designs to York who use these in their evolutionary models. |
Collaborator Contribution | We have partnered with complementary expertise. QUB provides the growth models for designs to York who use these in their evolutionary models. |
Impact | output number 4 - submitted for conference. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Invited Notes from the Front presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | I gave a presentation on the QUB work on generative design, including this research project. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.assessinitiative.com/congress/assess-2022/#program |
Description | Invited Seminar to the EPSRC NetworkPlus in Digitalised Surface Manufacturing |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | 20+ Academic and Research staff attended this seminar. The DSM Network arranges these to receive input from other relevant but external research activities from which they may learn. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://digitalisedsurfacemanufacturing.com/ |
Description | Nature Inspired Design Seminar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Part of the Loughborough University seminar series which invites external speakers to deliver seminars on relevant or interesting research topics. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |