Search Results

The COMponent Based Paradigm for AGile Automation (COMPAG) provides a component-based solution to engine production-line machine control systems. The traditional PLC system is replaced with a distributed control network containing intelligent nodes comprising locally controlled actuators and sensors. The Process Definition Environment provides support for the specification, configuration, and maintenance of the machine control application and facilitates both the initial design and maintenance stages of the lifecycle by describing the control logic as a set of consistent timing and state transition diagrams commonly used in the initial design stages.

A method to enable the impact of a novel component based approach to the implementation of production machinery design and build processes from the perspectives of the manufacturing engineering partners within the automotive industry is reported in this paper. The assessment method is based upon the representation (using CIMOSA based constructs) and simulation (using the ithinktm software package) of the activity, actor and event relationships between distributed partners when involved in a global engine manufacture programme. Assessment is vital to ensure that the impact of any novel approach is appreciated in terms and metrics that are consistent with the current operational and interaction paradigms. Without this information is it extremely difficult for the engineering partners to appreciate the impact of changes on their roles, responsibilities and profits and hence determine a roadmap and timescale for the adoption of the changes associated with the novel technology.

In the conventional automotive development cycle, handling, stability, and control evaluation have required driving actual prototype vehicles at a test track. Contemporary analysis makes is possible to estimate vehicle handling, stability, and control prior to having any hardware available. Described here is a method which allows: (1) dynamic response synthesis for optimizing vehicle configuration, and (2) setting design direction required to reach the kinematics and compliance targets for vehicle suspension and steering subsystems. Supplementing engineering design activities with dynamics analysis assures that the vehicle handling targets will be attained.

Road load durability computer simulations can be used to generate suspension road load data very early (4-5 years before Job #1) in a vehicle design cycle. With the aid of currently available software packages full vehicles (including tires) can be modeled along with the road profiles of the test track to be simulated. The results of the simulations are the displacements, velocities, accelerations, and loads vs. time histories at key points in the front or rear suspension. The design and development of a generic vehicle front and rear suspension is used to illustrate a method which utilizes a dynamic software package to optimize suspension geometries and to develop full vehicle models for road load durability simulations. The method begins with the suspension selection process for front and rear and carries through to road load simulations of a full vehicle model.