A method for developing systems that traverse the Pareto frontiers of multiple system concepts through modularity

Abstract

Natural changes in customer needs over time often necessitate the development of new systems that satisfy the new needs. In a previous work by the authors, a 5-step multiobjective optimization-based method was presented to identify systems that anticipate, account for, and allow for these changes by moving from one Pareto design to another through module addition. Recognizing the potential for changes in needs to exceed the limits of a single Pareto frontier, the present paper introduces important advancements that extend development to modules connecting multiple disparate system concepts. As such, the search for suitable system designs is extended from a Pareto frontier that characterizes one system concept to a Pareto frontier that characterizes a set of system concepts. An expanded methodology is described, and a tri-objective hurricane and flood resistant residential structure example is used to demonstrate the method. The authors conclude that the developed method provides a new methodology for selecting platform and module designs in the presence of multiple system concepts, and is capable of identifying a set of modular system designs that are well-suited to satisfy changing needs over time.

A Model for Quantifying System Evolvability Based on Excess and Capacity

“…Ultimately, the degree to which a system should be made evolvable while in service is a strategic choice. The strategies for service-phase evolution are generally to achieve multi-ability systems [25][26][27][28][29][30], system robustness [31][32][33][34][35], or as proposed in this paper, in response to unforeseen needs. Whatever the strategy may be, the quantitative relationships developed in this paper allow system engineers to evaluate the degree to which a system is evolvable, and the benefit of system evolution.…”

Modular Product Optimization to Alleviate Poverty: An Irrigation Pump Case Study

“…Step E: Implement an optimization routine to identify the target s-Pareto-optimal designs within each anticipated region of interest that are best suited to collectively facilitate traversing the s-Pareto frontier. The formulation of this optimization routine can be found in Lewis et al [12].…”

“…Due to the challenges in implementing the analysis models of the various configurations of the pump into the optimization method, the method was expanded to better facilitate more complex design scenarios [12]. The purpose of the present paper is to validate the ability of the method to identify progressively affordable modular products.…”

“…The remainder of this paper is presented as follows: A review of the optimization-based modular-product design method [12] is presented in Section 2. In Section 3, the optimization results and physical prototype are described in detail.…”

Defining Better Test Strategies with Tradespace Exploration Techniques and Pareto Fronts: Application in an Industrial Project

“…Furthermore, it also facilitates understanding underlying conflicting objectives during requirement elicitation and conceptual design [Salado and Nilchiani, 2015] and can support the planning of technology portfolios [Davison, Cameron, and Crawley, 2015]. In addition, the capabilities of tradespace exploration are being steadily evolved to incorporate for example uncertainty in the determination of the Pareto front [Mattson and Messac, 2005], change over time in the tradespace configuration and location of the Pareto front Lewis and Mattson, 2012;Curry and Ross, 2015], value robustness [Ross, Rhodes, and Hastings, 2009], or framing and visualization effects for facilitating negotiation [Fitzgerald and Ross, 2014].…”