Platform Configuration Research Articles

Product platform configuration decision in NPD with uncertain demands and module options

ABSTRACT Platform-based product development is a cost-efficient approach to satisfy wide range of customer preferences. One important problem is the product platform configuration, in which two types of platform configuration are widely used, either module selection or module integration. The platform configuration based on module selection provides a broader solution space of platform selection, while module integration facilitates product platform commonality to gain economic benefits. Up to date, most research focused on the platform configuration based on module selection with a given module set. In this paper, we propose a new model to determine the optimal platform configuration for an external product family, considering both module selection and integration. The demand for the external product family is uncertain and assumed to follow normal distribution. A hybrid methodology combining simulated annealing and variable neighbourhood search is proposed. A numerical examination is carried out for the purpose of evaluation. The results show that the proposed model can provide a practically good solution. Main contributions of this research are two folds, one is the balance point between module selection and module integration in the platform configuration and the other is that we take into account the operation cost of module acquisition to the platform configuration problem.

A 4-DoF Parallel Robot With a Built-in Gripper for Waste Sorting

This article presents a new robot concept dedicated to fast and energy-efficient waste sorting applications. This parallel robot can provide at the same time the three translations in space (3-DoF) and the opening/closing of a built-in gripper (1 additional DoF). The movement of the clamp is enabled thanks to a configurable platform at the end of the parallel structure. This platform is composed of a two-gear train gripper which is directly controlled by the 4 actuators attached to the base of the manipulator. The inverse kinematic as well as the differential models have been developed. A first prototype has been realized to validate this new parallel architecture for pick-and-toss tasks.

Kinematics of a Schönflies-Motion Generator Parallel Manipulator with Moving Configurable Platform

In this work, a parallel manipulator equipped with a moving configurable platform able to perform the Schönflies motion is introduced. The versatility of the robot is such that it is possible to attach to the configurable platform one end-effector endowed with a redundant decoupled rotation or two end-effectors in two opposite corners of the moving configurable platform. The mobility of the robot is explained by means of the theory of screws while the displacement analysis is approached by means of conventional vectorial algebra. In that concern, the forward position analysis leads to five quadratic equations which are solved by applying the homotopy continuation method. Afterwards, the velocity and acceleration analyses of the robot are approached by resorting to the theory of screws. Numerical examples are included with the purpose of validate the reliability of the method of kinematic analysis employed in the contribution.

Four-Channel Vibrating Testbed Design for Full Vehicle Durability Simulation

The four-channel vibrating testbed for full vehicle durability simulation is indispensable for testing vehicle performance. This paper combines theoretical analysis with experimental verification, and the four-channel vibrating simulation testbed is designed. The hardware system consists of three parts: hydraulic mechanical components, sensors, and closed-loop control system, and the software system consists of platform configuration system, platform management system, and basic test system. Based on the design of the hardware system and software system, the emphasis is put on signal processing. Based on the least squares principle, the undetermined coefficients of trend items are determined, the trend items are transformed into the arithmetic mean of signal data, and the models that eliminate constant trend items are established to eliminate the trend items. In order to reflect the fatigue process of parts more truly, the anomaly points were identified and eliminated based on the two-parameter rain-flow counting method. By representing the transfer function in the frequency domain, the measured signal is changed quickly by Fourier, and the uniqueness of the transfer function is ensured by establishing an invariant system. Finally, test verification was performed on the designed testbed with the white powder noise taken as the driving signal. The test results agree well with field testing results. The design of the testbed can meet the requirements of engineering application, and its design method and signal processing method are reasonable, which has certain theoretical research significance and engineering application value.

Convergence performance of flexural wave in the unconventional acoustic black hole

Two-dimensional traditional acoustic black hole (ABH) embedded in the plate has been recognized as a highly effective tool for wave energy harvesting, which enables wave trajectories to converge into a confined area. Traditional ABH is a rotational symmetrical circular indentation, and the residual thickness platform is always located in the center. This type of ABH has been widely investigated in previous study. However, the discussion on the structure configuration and layout of the residual thickness platform is rare. In this paper, two types of unconventional ABHs embedded in the plate are proposed and studied, namely “Heteromorphic ABH” and “Eccentric ABH,” which represent that the shape of indentation is no longer a circle and the inner platform is not located in the center, respectively. These unconventional ABHs can also converge the flexural wave, but the focalization phenomenon is obviously distinct from that of the traditional ABH. The converging performances are characterized through the ray-tracing method based on the geometrical acoustic method. The validation of calculated results is conducted using the finite element simulation. Moreover, the effects of ABH geometric parameters are investigated in detail. The unconventional ABH demonstrates the multiplicity in structure and shows the potential of the flexible manipulation for flexural waves.

On-orbit validation of thermal control subsystem for microsatellite with integrated configuration of platform and payload

• An integrated optimization method of equipment layout and parameters is proposed. • The thermal control subsystem is operating normally from the flight data. • Results from simulation, test, and on-orbit data show a good correlation with others. Microsatellites have the characteristics of a short development cycle, low cost, low risk, and convenience for rapid launch and networking. They offer considerable advantages in terms of production, testing, launch, operation, and maintenance. Subject to the constraints of size, weight, and funding, the integration of the payload and platform are highly and coupled, which brings new challenges to the design of the thermal control subsystem for satellites. Aiming at a microsatellite with an integrated configuration of the platform and payload, an integrated optimization method of equipment layout and parameters for thermal hardware is proposed to determine the equipment arrangement. A simulation model for the thermal control subsystem is established. Using the simulation model, the temperature fields of the satellite under the cold case and hot case conditions are analyzed. The thermal balance test and the on-orbit flight data show that the thermal control subsystem is operating normally and that the control strategy is reasonable. The simulation model shows high accuracy, and the satellite temperature range meets the design requirements.

MiGriBot: A miniature parallel robot with integrated gripping for high-throughput micromanipulation.

Although robotic micromanipulation using microtweezers has been widely explored, the current manipulation throughput hardly exceeds one operation per second. Increasing the manipulation throughput is thus a key factor for the emergence of robotized microassembly industries. This article presents MiGriBot (Millimeter Gripper Robot), a miniaturized parallel robot with a configurable platform and soft joints, designed to perform pick-and-place operations at the microscale. MiGriBot combines in a single robot the benefits of a parallel kinematic architecture with a configurable platform and the use of soft joints at the millimeter scale. The configurable platform of the robot provides an internal degree of freedom that can be used to actuate microtweezers using piezoelectric bending actuators located at the base of the robot, which notably reduces the robot's inertia. The soft joints make it possible to miniaturize the mechanism and to avoid friction. These benefits enable MiGriBot to reach a throughput of 10 pick-and-place cycles per second of micrometer-sized objects, with a precision of 1 micrometer.

Kinematics of a nine-legged in-parallel manipulator with configurable platform

AbstractConfigurable platforms bring a research field to expand the attributes of parallel manipulators. This work is devoted to investigate the kinematics of a nine-degrees-of-freedom parallel manipulator whose active kinematic pairs are located near to the fixed platform, and it is equipped with a 6-R configurable platform. The mobility of the proposed 9-UPUR{6R} configurable parallel manipulator is such that it is possible to manipulate the kinematics of a grasping triangle associated to the configurable platform. The theory of screws is systematically applied to solve the direct and inverse infinitesimal kinematics of the manipulator. As an intermediate step, the displacement analysis is approached by means of algebraic geometry. The contribution is complemented with numerical examples to illustrate the versatility of the method of kinematic analysis.

Stratigraphy and depositional evolution of the terminal Ediacaran platform in the central to northern Sichuan Basin, Southwest China

The upper Ediacaran Dengying Formation in the Sichuan Basin provides well-preserved sedimentary records for investigating Precambrian microbialites and platform evolution. However, as previous studies have mainly focused on the broad platform-basin architecture, the depositional evolution of the platform has not been fully illuminated in the central to northern Sichuan Basin, where an intraplatform rift trough developed. Therefore, based on drilling wells and outcrops in the area, 20 lithofacies were identified and grouped into eight lithofacies associations indicating peritidal flat, shallow subtidal flat, lagoon, mixed tidal flat, slope, basin, coast and shallow sea environments. Moreover, two transgressive-regressive depositional cycles (Cycle 1 and Cycle 2) were recognized based on the five shallowing-upward (types A–E) and three deepening-upward (types F–H) cycle types. A ramp-like epeiric platform with a gentle slope developed in Cycle 1. The platform is dominated by shallow subtidal grainstones and peritidal microbialites, and the trough is in a slope environment without deep-water basin facies. In the transgression of Cycle 2, a siliciclastic-dominated environment comprising the coast and shallow sea developed on the shelf. Then a rimmed carbonate platform developed in the regression of Cycle 2, with the accumulation of shoal grainstone and peritidal microbialite in the platform margin, lagoonal dolomudstone in the platform interior, and steep slope rhythmite and basinal chert in the distal rift trough. Eustatic sea-level fluctuation and climatic change controlled the lithological transitions between carbonate and siliciclastic deposits. The platform configuration change is closely related to the evolution of the rift trough, which is the result of intense differential subsidence and sedimentation rates between the trough and platform under the effect of pre-existing basement rifts and coeval growth fault activities. A detailed depositional history of the Ediacaran Dengying Formation around the intraplatform rift trough was finally obtained, providing a good template for the study of the Precambrian microbialite-dominated platform with a similar tectonic setting.

Design and Stability Analysis of an Offshore Floating Multi-Wind Turbine Platform

The multi-wind turbine platform technology has the potential to harness the significant source of offshore wind energy in deep waters. However, the wake interference between the turbines on the multi-wind turbine platform can cause a reduction in power production; hence, it is important to study the wake effects in the initial phase of the design. This paper studies the effects of wake interference between the wind turbines on three different platform configurations to find a suitable configuration for the wind turbines on a multi-turbine platform. The analytical Larsen wake model and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are used for evaluating the wake effects. The platform configuration required for the wind turbines is determined based on the results of wake effects, and then a novel platform is designed. The free-floating stability behavior of the multi-wind turbine platform is analyzed using the hydrostatic analysis of the modeled platform. The wave-body interaction between the platform and the waves is predicted using the hydrodynamic analysis. A preliminary cost analysis of the multi-turbine platform concept is evaluated and compared with a single wind turbine floating concept. The results showed that the presented design is a promising concept that can enhance the offshore wind industry.

Integrating Energy-Optimizing Scheduling of Moldable Streaming Tasks with Design Space Exploration for Multiple Core Types on Configurable Platforms

Design space exploration of a configurable, heterogeneous system for a given application with required throughput searches for a combination of cores or softcores with different architectures that can be accommodated within the given ASIC or FPGA area and that achieves the required throughput and optimizes power consumption. For a soft real-time streaming application, modeled as a task graph with internally parallelizable streaming tasks, this requires assigning a core type and quantity and DVFS frequency level to each task, which implies task runtime and energy consumption, and mapping and scheduling the tasks, such that the throughput requirement is met. We tightly integrate such static scheduling for stream processing applications with design space exploration of the best heterogeneous core combination, and solve the resulting combined optimization problem by an integer linear program (ILP). We evaluate our solution for different numbers of core types on synthetic and application-based task graphs, and demonstrate improvements of up to 34.8% for ARM big and LITTLE cores, and 70.5% for 3 different core types.

A modelling and simulation framework to assess integrated survivability of naval platforms in high threat environments

Integrated Survivability analysis of naval platforms incorporates the domains of susceptibility, vulnerability and recoverability, measured temporally. These are accepted as key elements when holistically assessing naval platform survivability against threat scenarios. Conversely, traditional naval platform survivability assessment only considered the vulnerability domain or a combination of susceptibility and vulnerability. However, emphasis is now placed on the interdependence of susceptibility, vulnerability and recoverability. Unfortunately, there are shortcomings with historic survivability modelling and assessment capabilities pertaining to Integrated Survivability. This has resulted in the need to clearly define the concept of Integrated Survivability, and identify modelling requirements to assess platforms exposed to the threat environments. A naval platform Integrated Survivability assessment capability, derived from those survivability modelling requirements, will enable naval architects and mission planners to quantify the effects of platform survivability. Assessments will consider platform safety systems and survivability control measures, and changes to those systems and control measures. Outcomes from the assessments will contribute to platform configuration optimisation for resilience against the threat environment and enable mission success. This paper presents the need for an Integrated Survivability assessment capability, defining relevant terminology, and elucidating modelling requirements to develop such a capability.

Object-oriented logic configuration platform design for large power grid security and stability simulation

In response to the multi-state simulation business process requirements of large power grids in actual engineering, a logic configuration platform of large power grid security and stability simulation is designed in this paper. In order to improve the application adaptability of the existing configuration software, firstly, the overall architecture and visual operation interface design of the logic configuration platform of large power grid security and stability simulation are proposed. Secondly, the key technologies to realize the generalized logic configuration platform of large power grid simulation are deeply discussed from the aspects of logic compilation and engine implementation. Thirdly, based on the configuration platform, the innovative application of intelligent large power grid operation mode arrangement system is realized. Practice shows that after the introduction of logic configuration, the time consumption is reduced by more than 85% compared with the traditional manual flow coding method and by more than 90% compared with the traditional manual batch power flow calculation and modulation process, which effectively improves the work efficiency and greatly saves the working time. In the system development, the visual logic configuration mode replaces the engineering customization mode of conventional manual software coding, which greatly improves the engineering adaptability of multi-state large power grid simulation business requirements.

Advances in Multicore Fiber Grating Sensors

In recent years, multicore fiber (MCF) has attracted increasing interest for sensing applications, due to its unique fiber structure of multiple parallel cores in a single fiber cladding, which offers a flexible configurable platform to establish diverse functional fiber devices for sensing applications. So far, a variety of discrete fiber sensors using MCF have been developed, among which one of the major categories is the MCF grating sensors. The most distinct characteristic of MCF that differs from the normal single mode fibers is that the off-center cores of a MCF are sensitive to bending, which is caused by the bending induced tangential strain in off-center waveguides through either compression or stretching. The bending sensitivity has been widely developed for bending/curvature sensing or measuring physical parameters that are associated with bending. In this paper, we review the research progress on MCF-based fiber grating sensors. MCF-based diverse fiber grating sensors will be introduced, whose working principles will be discussed, and various types of applications of the MCF grating sensors will be summarized. Finally, the challenges and prospects of MCF grating for sensing applications will be presented.

Implementing a cost effective and configurable hybrid simulation platform in healthcare education, using wearable and web-based technologies

There are many examples of hybrid simulation models in healthcare education which are designed to simulate specific scenarios. However, there appears to be a need for a cost effective and configurable hybrid simulation platform which can be used by educators of various healthcare disciplines to simulate different scenarios. The purpose of this paper is to develop a proof-of-concept platform that can be easily implemented at little cost and provide flexibility to healthcare instructors to develop a variety of simulation scenarios, and to determine the effectiveness of this platform. Using a standardized patient, a person acting as a patient in a scripted manner, along with wearable and web-based technologies, a congestive heart failure simulation was used as an evaluative exercise for a group of personal support worker students at a Canadian Community College. Personal support workers typically provide care to any person who may require personal assistance with activities of daily living such as feeding, lifting, bathing, skin care and oral hygiene to name a few. Standardized patients are typically used in healthcare education to educate and evaluate soft skills, such as caregiver to patient communication, professionalism, as well as hard skills, such as history taking, examination and diagnostic skills (Rosen in J Crit Care 23:157–166, 2008). Instructor feedback indicated that the platform was easy to use and capable of simulating a large variety of scenarios. Pre and post test results are evidence of initial findings of promise indicating that the platform seemed to be effective in enabling students to meet learning outcomes. Focus group results seem to indicate an increase in student confidence as it relates to their ability to handle a similar scenario in the workplace.

MyCap: a flexible and configurable platform for mobilizing the participant voice.

This paper provides a description of the MyCap data collection platform, utilization metrics, and vignettes associated with use from diverse research institutions. MyCap is a participant-facing mobile application for survey data collection and the automated administration of active tasks (activities performed by participants using mobile device sensors under semi-controlled conditions). Launched in 2018, MyCap is a no-code solution for research teams conducting longitudinal studies, integrates tightly with REDCap and is available at no cost to research teams at academic, nonprofit, or government organizations. MyCap has been deployed at multiple research institutions with application usage logged across 135 countries in 2021. Vignettes demonstrate that MyCap empowered research teams to explore and implement novel methods of information collection and use. MyCap’s integration with REDCap provides a comprehensive data collection ecosystem and is best suited for longitudinal studies with frequent requests for information from participants.

Product platform configuration for product families: Module clustering based on product architecture and manufacturing process

Product family design utilizes platform-based modularity to enable product variety and efficient mass-production. While product platform issues have attracted much attention from both academia and industry, traditional product platform design for product families emphasized the platform-based modularity that focuses on product structure dimension (functional or non-functional) to realize cost reductions during the design stage. Both the design architecture and manufacturing process are objectives that define product family modularity (PFM). They should be closely coupled with each other for the planning and configuration of platforms. This paper focuses on the product platform configuration by recognizing and utilizing shared product modules for product families. Instead of clustering product modules only based on their design structure, this approach differentiates each product variant, and considers the inherent relationship between product architecture and processing activities. The advantage is that similar components can be grouped and produced on a shared platform, thus benefitting from lower cost and shorter production time. First, both the architecture and manufacturing information of the product variety are captured in matrix format. Then, hierarchical clustering is applied over the components to generate PFM. Finally, a set of platforms are constructed to efficiently process most components of variants.

'Intel Acat' Assistive Platform for Arabic Speaking Disabled People: a Complete Integration.

Background:The Intel Assistive Context-Aware Toolkit (ACAT) is the highly configurable platform used by Dr. Stephen Hawking to communicate with his environment. After being released freely to the public, we, at the Embedded Systems Laboratory - UBMA, have been working on integrating the Arabic language on the different packages of the platform in order to make it accessible for disabled people from Arabic countries and decrease their communication limitations.Objective:This subproject concerns the Arabic Text-to-speech engine implementation and comes as a final step toward the full integration of the Arabic language into Intel ACAT assistive platform.Methods:The text to speech conversions was integrated by implementing a mapping between the Arabic words and their phonetic spelling using Microsoft Text-To-Speech Synthesis on Intel ACAT modules and extensions. A full compilation was then executed and tested gathering all the modules and the features of the platform.Results:Over this final integration step (which is freely accessible and open sourced for the public), people with severe disabilities from Arabic-speaking countries will have fully access to all the features of the ACAT platform and will be able communicate and interact easily with their computers.Conclusion:The Arabic language Text-to-speech engine integration on ‘Intel ACAT’ Assistive Platform is the final milestone of our project toward making the platform fully accessible for Arabic-Speaking users and comes after our previous integrations of the Arabic language into the keyboard, the intelligent predictive text engine and all panels and interfaces of the platform.

VO2-based ultra-reconfigurable intelligent reflective surface for 5G applications

As demand for higher capacity wireless communications increases, new approaches are needed to improve capacity. The lack of configurable radio platforms and power consumed to create new signals are some of the limitations preventing further advancements. To address these limitations, we propose an Ultra-Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (URIS) platform based on the metal-to-insulator transition property of VO2. A VO2 layer is placed on a high-density micro-heater matrix consisting of pixels that can be electronically switched on. With this manner of control, heat can be transferred to selected areas of the VO2 layer and convert it to highly conductive metallic phase. This technique allows dynamically changing the shape of the reflection surface with high speed. We numerically investigated the heat activated switching and RF reflection characteristics of a reflectarray designed for potential 5G applications operating at 32 GHz. It consists of heating pixels with the size of 40 × 40 μm which can generate metallic VO2 patches or arbitrary shapes with ~ 100 × 100 μm spatial resolution. Our analyses resulted in large phase range of ~ 300° and approximate losses of −2 dB. The proposed device can serve as a novel platform for ultra-reconfigurable reflectarrays, other IRSs, and various wide spectral range RF applications.

A Hybrid Multi-GPU Implementation of Simplex Algorithm with CPU Collaboration

The simplex algorithm has been successfully used for many years in solving linear programming (LP) problems. Due to the intensive computations required (especially for the solution of large LP problems), parallel approaches have also extensively been studied. The computational power provided by the modern GPUs as well as the rapid development of multicore CPU systems have led OpenMP and CUDA programming models to the top preferences during the last years. However, the desired efficient collaboration between CPU and GPU through the combined use of the above programming models is still considered a hard research problem. In the above context, we demonstrate here an excessively efficient implementation of standard simplex, targeting to the best possible exploitation of the concurrent use of all the computing resources, on a multicore platform with multiple CUDA-enabled GPUs. More concretely, we present a novel hybrid collaboration scheme which is based on the concurrent execution of suitably spread CPU-assigned (via multithreading) and GPU-offloaded computations. The experimental results extracted through the cooperative use of OpenMP and CUDA over a notably powerful modern hybrid platform (consisting of 32 cores and two high-spec GPUs – Titan Rtx and Rtx 2080Ti) highlight that the performance of the presented here hybrid GPU/CPU collaboration scheme is clearly superior to the GPU-only implementation under almost all conditions. The corresponding measurements validate the value of using all resources concurrently, even in the case of a multi-GPU configuration platform. Furthermore, the given implementations are completely comparable (and slightly superior in most cases) to other related attempts in the bibliography, and clearly superior to the native CPU implementation with 32 cores. Keywords—Parallel Computing; Linear Programming; Simplex Method; Multicore Platform; Hardware Acceleration, GPGPU; OpenMP; CUDA