Usage feedback loop for iterative design synthesis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11062058-B2
Application number	US-201615234818-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2016
Priority date	Aug 11, 2016
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

Abstract

An iterative design environment performs an iterative design process of a product by implementing usage feedback of the product when utilized under real-world conditions. Sensors are installed on the physical product and collect data about the behavior of the product under real-world conditions. The sensor data comprise usage feedback implemented to inform and produce a design problem statement and one or more design solutions. The sensor data is received by a problem statement engine to produce a problem statement based, at least in part, on the sensor data. A design engine then produces one or more design solutions for the problem statement and one of the design solutions is fabricated to produce a new physical product. Sensors are then installed onto the new physical product and the iterative design process may be performed again. The iterative design process may be performed multiple times until a satisfactory physical product is achieved.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for designing a product, the method comprising:
receiving first sensor data recorded by at least one sensor coupled to a first product when the first product is utilized under a plurality of different conditions, wherein each condition comprises a predetermined controlled load case for the first product that is executed in a real-world use environment;
performing a laser geometry scan of the first product to produce a scan of the first product that includes a mount location for the at least one sensor on the first product;
processing the first sensor data to generate derived data;
generating a first design problem statement based, at least in part, on the first sensor data and the derived data, wherein the first design problem statement specifies the mount location of the at least one sensor on the first product; and
generating at least one design solution based on the first design problem statement.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising exporting the at least one design solution to a fabrication device for fabricating a second product.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising:
recording second sensor data while the second product is utilized under at least one condition.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising:
receiving the second sensor data;
generating a second design problem statement based, at least in part, on the second sensor data; and
generating at least one design solution based on the second design problem statement.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is mounted on the first product at a port interface where the first product connects to an external component.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first design problem statement comprises at least one constraint requirement based, at least in part, on the first sensor data recorded by the at least one sensor.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein:
the at least one design solution satisfies the at least one constraint requirement.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first design problem statement comprises a first constraint requirement that specifies a first value at a first mount location;
the first value is derived from the first sensor data recorded by the at least one sensor;
the first mount location specifies the mount location of the at least one sensor on the first product; and
the at least one design solution satisfies the first constraint requirement by satisfying the first value at the first mount location.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the first value comprises a force value.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the derived data is stored to a plurality of separate data tables, wherein each separate data table stores derived data for a condition in the plurality of different conditions.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the derived data comprises force data that is stored to a plurality of force data tables, wherein each force data table stores force data for a predetermined controlled load case for the first product.

12. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to design a product by performing the steps of:
receiving first sensor data recorded by at least one sensor coupled to a first product when the first product is utilized under a plurality of different conditions, wherein each condition comprises a predetermined controlled load case for the first product that is executed in a real-world use environment;
performing a laser geometry scan of the first product to produce a scan of the first product that includes a mount location for the at least one sensor on the first product;
processing the first sensor data to generate derived data;
generating a first design problem statement based, at least in part, on the first sensor data and the derived data, wherein the first design problem statement specifies the mount location of the at least one sensor on the first product; and
generating at least one design solution based on the first design problem statement.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 12 , further comprising exporting the at least one design solution to a fabrication device for fabricating a second product.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 13 , further comprising:
recording second sensor data while the second product is utilized under at least one condition.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving the second sensor data;
generating a second design problem statement based, at least in part, on the second sensor data; and
generating at least one design solution based on the second design problem statement.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 12 , wherein the at least one sensor is mounted on the first product at a port interface where the first product connects to an external component.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 12 , wherein the first design problem statement comprises at least one constraint requirement based, at least in part, on the first sensor data recorded by the at least one sensor.

18. A computer-implemented method for designing a product, the method comprising:
receiving first sensor data recorded by at least one sensor on a first product when utilized in a plurality of different conditions, wherein each condition comprises a predetermined controlled load case for the first product that is executed in a real-world use environment;
performing a laser geometry scan of the first product to produce a scan of the first product that includes a mount location for the at least one sensor on the first product;
processing the first sensor data to generate first force data;
generating a first design problem statement based, at least in part, on the first force data, wherein the first design problem statement specifies the mount location of the at least one sensor on the first product; and
generating at least one design solution based on the first design problem statement.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 , further comprising:
exporting the at least one design solution to a fabrication device for fabricating a second product;
installing at least one sensor on the second product; and
recording, at the at least one sensor, second sensor data while the second product is utilized in at least one condition;
translating the second sensor data to second force data;
producing a second design problem statement based, at least in part, on the second force data; and
producing at least one design solution based on the second design problem statement.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 , wherein producing the at least one design solution comprises applying a combination of topology optimization and beam-based optimization design synthesis algorithms to the design problem statement.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 18 , wherein:
the first design problem statement comprises a plurality of constraint requirements; and
the at least one design solution satisfies each constraint requirement specified in the first desig

Assignees

• Autodesk Inc

Inventors

• Bergin Michael
• Nourbakhsh Mehdi
• Iorio Francesco
• Morris Nigel
• Davis Mark Thomas

Classifications

• G06F30/00 Primary

  Computer-aided design [CAD] · CPC title

• G06F2119/18

  Manufacturability analysis or optimisation for manufacturability · CPC title

• G06F30/23 Primary

  using finite element methods [FEM] or finite difference methods [FDM] · CPC title

• G06F30/15 Primary

  Vehicle, aircraft or watercraft design · CPC title

• Y02P90/02

  Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] · CPC title