Product Conceptual Design Research Articles

Application of Human-Computer Interaction Based on Big Data Technology in Electronic Product Design

With the development of information technology and the improvement of people’s living standards, people’s requirements for product design are becoming higher and higher. As the necessary equipment in people’s work and life, electronic products occupy a very important position on the way forward of the society. In the contradiction between product and human demand, human-computer interaction technology comes into being, which provides a solution to this problem. This technology builds a bridge between the product and the demand, so that the product can really serve people, rather than people to adapt to the design of the product. Accordingly, this study discusses the basic situation of human-computer interaction technology, the concept of electronic product design and the application of human-computer interaction technology in electronic product design.

REVIEW OF DESIGN HEURISTICS AND DESIGN PRINCIPLES IN DESIGN FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

AbstractThe advent of additive manufacturing (AM) in recent years have had a significant impact on the design process. Because of new manufacturing technology, a new area of research emerged – Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) with newly developed design support methods and tools. This paper looks into the current status of the field regarding the conceptual design of AM products, with the focus on how literature sources treat design heuristics and design principles in the context of DfAM. To answer the research question, a systematic literature review was conducted. The results are analysed, compared and discussed on three main points: the definition of the design heuristics and the design principles, level of support they provide, as well as where and how they are used inside the design process. The paper highlights the similarities and differences between design heuristics and design principles in the context of DfAM.

MULTI-DOMAIN DESIGN ASSESSMENT FOR AEROSPACE COMPONENTS INCLUDING WELD ACCESSIBILITY

AbstractAeroengine manufacturers need to better include assessment of risk and cost for realising the novel products needed to meet the ambitions sustainability driven targets for air transport. Radical technologies are needed that simultaneously require critical manufacturing processes to be assessed already in conceptual design.In this paper, a multi-domain framework for conceptual design and evaluation is proposed that provide the ability to interactively explore the concepts that simultaneously allow a wider range of architectures can be assessed and still include weldability of the concepts.It has been demonstrated how high level, and function driven conceptual design alternatives can be modelled and evaluated to analyse risk and resilience of architectures. Geometrical concepts generated for the most interesting regimes using design of experiments covering a desired design space. For each CAD-model the welding process can be simulated to assess feasibility and lead time for welding, and return quantified results to be included in an integrated results data set for interactive decision making. The paper is the first report from a research project that improve concurrent design of product and production concepts.

Sustainable Tourism Product Development: An Application of Product Design Concepts

This study examines sustainable tourism products in tourism destinations. Based on concepts of sustainable product design, our study proposes a framework for sustainable tourism products by adapting an existing Design for Sustainability Framework to consider and analyze the characteristics and themes of sustainable (tourism) products as well as their impact and scope. Using a pragmatic qualitative approach, 15 semi-structured interviews with destination managers from the German-speaking Alpine region formed the empirical basis of the study. The results emphasize key themes and multiple characteristics associated with sustainable tourism products in tourist destinations, addressing all sustainability components and design innovation levels. This study is the first to apply existing sustainable product design concepts to destination contexts and discuss their applicability for sustainable tourism products. For practitioners, this study provides support for the development of sustainable tourism products and contributes to a better understanding of the effects and levels of these products as well as sustainability marketing.

A function-oriented biologically analogical approach for constructing the design concept of smart product in Industry 4.0

The development of the Industry 4.0 paradigm and the advancement of information technology have aroused new consumer requirements for smart products that are capable of context awareness and autonomous control. Nature holds huge potential for inspiring innovative design concepts that can meet the ever-growing need for smart products since biology perceive and interact with their living environment for survival. However, to date, very few studies have explored the application of natural wisdom in building innovative design concepts for smart products. This paper proposes a function-oriented design approach for smart products, by analogizing to biological prototypes. To do so, a unified functional representation, based on the Function–behavior–structure (FBS) ontology, is proposed to abstract biological prototypes, followed by a fuzzy triangular numbers-based algorithm designed to locate appropriate biological prototypes as analogical sources for smart product development. Moreover, functional innovative strategies and a hybrid design process are formulated to develop design concepts of smart products, by integrating several existing engineering design methods. Finally, an illustrative design case of a smart natural resource collecting system is used to demonstrate the workability of the proposed method.

Conceptual Design of Mechatronics System Based on Intelligent Control

With the development of society, the research on product concept design has become more and more mature, and the conceptual design of mechatronics system has gradually become the key research and design direction in the field of mechatronics. The rapid development of modern industrial production not only provides strong support for the application and popularization of mechatronics system, but also promotes the overall improvement of industrial production efficiency and quality. Electromechanical integration is a comprehensive mechanical system in essence. Because the traditional industrial control technology can no longer meet the requirements of industrial production on the function of mechatronics system. Intensify the research and application of intelligent control technology, minimize the impact of human factors on industrial production, and promote the effective improvement of the operation performance of mechatronics system. This paper analyzes the application of intelligent control in mechatronics system, and discusses the conceptual design method of mechatronics system based on intelligent control.

Research on the process planning and multi-method integration strategy of product conceptual design with cognitive mechanisms.

Innovative product design is essentially an activity involving creative cognitive thinking. Therefore, research on the innovative design process and of methods, computer-aided innovation tools should be conducted based on systematic exploration based on the principles of innovative cognitive thinking. We aim to uncover some general principles that can serve as a systematic thinking framework for product designers, provide a feasible framework and method of innovative thinking for designers, and provide theoretical and methodological support for further development of computer-aided innovation platforms. This paper summarizes the sources and content of studies on the idea generation and design processes behind product innovation. Specifically, we break down the general innovative design process of products, outlining the cognitive mechanisms and propose an integrated application strategy that incorporates multiple methods. And taking "the solution program to the coking of oily sludge pyrolysis equipment" as an example, this paper demonstrated and verified the effectiveness and practicability of the method and strategy proposed. Based on the results on improvements in the equipment, the designers put forward some creative and implementable design schemes. The entire thinking process was relatively smooth and efficient. The example presented in this paper shows that the proposed method can effectively guide/assist/motivate designers to think creatively.

Metrics for Measuring Sustainable Product Design Concepts

Although products can contribute to ecosystems positively, they can cause negative environmental impacts throughout their life cycles, from obtaining raw material, production, and use, to end of life. It is reported that most negative environmental impacts are decided at early design phases, which suggests that the determination of product sustainability should be considered as early as possible, such as during the conceptual design stage, when it is still possible to modify the design concept. However, most of the existing concept evaluation methods or tools are focused on assessing the feasibility or creativity of the concepts generated, lacking the measurements of sustainability of concepts. The paper explores key factors related to sustainable design with regard to environmental impacts, and describes a set of objective measures of sustainable product design concept evaluation, namely, material, production, use, and end of life. The rationales of the four metrics are discussed, with corresponding measurements. A case study is conducted to demonstrate the use and effectiveness of the metrics for evaluating product design concepts. The paper is the first study to explore the measurement of product design sustainability focusing on the conceptual design stage. It can be used as a guideline to measure the level of sustainability of product design concepts to support designers in developing sustainable products. Most significantly, it urges the considerations of sustainability design aspects at early design phases, and also provides a new research direction in concept evaluation regarding sustainability.

Rancangan Mesin Cuci Hemat Energi, Ekonomis dan Ramah Lingkungan dengan Memperhatikan Aspek Ergonomi

Currently, the process of washing clothes is a commonly process that carried out in a household. To save human energy and washing time, a washing machine is used. There are a lot of washing machine models on the market, but in general the existing washing machine have standard functions, use electrical energy, quite expensive, and use materials that are less environmentally friendly. Based on these various shortcomings, it is necessary to design an innovative washing machine. The method used in this research is the concept of product design starting from seeing the needs to develop the desired product concept until making a product prototype. The washing machine designed in this study can be used to wash all types of clothes weighing 3 kilograms and is equipped with clothes drying device with a capacity of 20 clothes that rotates during the washing process, so it will speed up the drying process. In addition, the materials used come from secondhand goods, so the price is economic. This washing machine is not designed use electrical energy but kinetic energy, so it is environmentally friendly and can be also used as an exercise tool that can the user's body keep healthy and ergonomic when used.

Application of Quality Function Deployment for Product Design Concept Selection

For business-to-business (B2B) companies, selecting new product concepts is vital to new product development (NPD), since it significantly contributes to the ultimate success and reputation of the product in terms of quality and function. The research problem is defining the best solution of new product’s design concept selection within high competition and resources’ limitation by mathematical approaches. The main objective of this study is developing an integrated analytical approach, combining quality function deployment (QFD) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) approach, and data envelopment analysis (DEA) to enhance the effectiveness of design product decisions. The proposed approach focuses on mathematical methods to comprehensively evaluate and strategically select the best new product concept while considering the features of the B2B product and the available information during concept selection. The best new concept is selected by the combined scores derived from the concept competitiveness (quality function deployment—analytic hierarchy process) and the design development efficiency (data envelopment analysis). Finally, the design alternatives are classified into four categories by quadrant analysis for design concept management. The benefit of this approach—combining three mathematical models together for the best concept’s solution.

Developing Pandemic Prevention and Control by ANP-QFD Approach: A Case Study on Urban Furniture Design in China Communities.

Background: An infectious disease can affect human beings at an alarming speed in modern society, where Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to a worldwide pandemic, posing grave threats to public security and the social economies. However, as one of the closest attachments of urban dwellers, urban furniture hardly contributes to pandemic prevention and control. Methods: Given this critical challenge, this article aims to propose a feasible solution to coping with pandemic situations through urban furniture design, using an integrated method of Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and Analytic Network Process (ANP). Eight communities in China are selected as the research sites, since people working and living in these places have successful experience preventing and containing pandemics. Results: Three user requirements (URs), namely, usability and easy access, sanitation, and health and emotional pleasure, are determined. Meanwhile, seven design requirements (DRs) are identified, including contact reduction, effective disinfection, good appearance, social and cultural symbols, ergonomics, smart system and technology and sustainability. The overall priorities of URs and DRs and their inner dependencies are subsequently determined through the ANP-QFD method, comprising the House of Quality (HQQ). According to the theoretical results, we propose five design strategies for pandemic prevention and control. Conclusion: It is demonstrated that the incorporated method of ANP-QFD has applicability and effectiveness in the conceptual product design process. This article can also provide a new perspective for pandemic prevention and control in densely populated communities in terms of product design and development.

An Integrated Framework for Optimal Design of Complex Mechanical Products

Abstract The presently achieved research results are not effective for the design of complex mechanical products when various methods and tools in different schemes have to be employed at different design stages. A new integrated framework for the optimal design of complex mechanical products is introduced in this research considering modeling, simulation, and optimization aspects. First, a hybrid scheme is developed for the integrated modeling of complex mechanical products. In this hybrid scheme, descriptions of a generic product are modeled by an and-or tree. Feasible design candidates are created from the and-or tree through tree-based search. Geometric descriptions in a design candidate are associated with a computer-aided design (CAD) system. Second, a hybrid simulation method is developed for the evaluation of different product aspects with different simulation tools which are integrated through the hybrid modeling scheme. Simulations with geometric descriptions are conducted by analysis functions of the CAD system. Simulations with non-geometric descriptions are conducted by the knowledge-based systems. Third, a hybrid optimization method is developed to identify the optimal design of the complex mechanical product. For each design candidate, parameter optimization is conducted to obtain the optimal parameter values. The optimal design solution is identified from all design candidates through configuration optimization. A prototype system has been implemented for conceptual design and detailed design of complex mechanical products.

A New Concept of Product Design by Involving Emotional Factors using EEG: A Case Study of Computer Mouse Design

Product design has long been developed based on reliability and usability, but has neglected the objective measurement in terms of pleasurable experience. This paper presents a new concept of product design, with application in computer mouse design, which not only considers the performance of its functional factor but also emotional factor. A survey involving 153 respondents showed that 75.16% of respondents consider ergonomic / comfort factor as the most important factor, followed by precision factor with 58.17%, and noise factor with 15.03%. Furthermore, a survey of pairewise comparisons were conducted to assess the level of importance of the emotional factor. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to process weightage, resulting in stress = 0.27, focus = 0.279, engagement = 0.29, and interest = 0.265. Finally, the emotional level of 5 different mouse units was assessed through experiments using the EEG Emotiv 16 Channels system 10-20. There are three stages in assessing the mouse which were carried out using the 5 samples, namely the level of interest, the stage of using (ergonomics, focus) t, and the stage of user experience (engagement). From the average measurement of the EEG value, it was found that interest = 57.8 (scale 0-100) on a mouse that has an elegant shape, striking color, and with wifi connectivity, focus & stress because the size fits the shape of the hand and the level of cursor precision, while engagement follows the other three emotional factors. It can be concluded that brain signal exploration through Emotiv's EEG is able to quantify the emotional factor in product selection through the phase of attraction, use and experience.

A unified method for functional modeling of mechatronic products

The development of mechatronic products is complex because it deals with the interaction between different domains. In a literature review, the absence of a method capable of integrating the functional view of a mechatronic product into a single model was observed. This article aims to develop a functional modeling method to aid the conceptual design of mechatronic products. The proposed procedure describes the phases and steps required to create functional models and use cases for the different mechatronics knowledge domains and to combine them into a single functional model. The use of the proposed method is demonstrated through its application in the development of an air compressor. The method is then evaluated by experts and tested in the development of an autonomous vehicle for railway inspection, demonstrating its feasibility and the presentation of functional information in a single diagram. Factors such as effectiveness, usability and repeatability were also verified, and an efficient presentation of the function model was observed, allowing to view the relations between the mechanics, electronics and software domains in a unified diagram. The great benefit of the proposed method lies is in the possibility of also using functional models in the context of mechatronic product design.

Valorisation of rejected unripe plantain fruits of Musa AAB Simmonds: from nutritional characterisation to the conceptual process design for prebiotic production.

The increasing consumption of plantain fruits with specific quality standards generates high agricultural waste. This work aimed at valorising the rejected unripe pulp of Dominico-Hartón plantain fruits (Musa AAB Simmonds). The pulp was characterised physico-chemically, thermally and functionally. The data gathered experimentally and collected from different databases were used to design a production process of isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMO) syrup. The plantain flour contains high levels of starch (87 ± 2%) and amylose (31.2 ± 0.8%). The flour showed stability at high temperatures (pasting temperature of 79.26 ± 0.02 °C), allowing its use in high temperature processes. In vitro gastrointestinal digestion of the plantain flour showed that when cooked, the glycemic index of the flour increased from 47.7 ± 2.2 to 84.2 ± 1.8, while its resistant starch content only slightly decreased from 71.7 ± 1% to 52.6 ± 2%, suggesting that this type of flour preserves high content of dietary fibre after digestion. The conceptual process design showed that 24.48 g of IMO are theoretically obtained from 53.24 g of plantain flour maltose. These results suggest that the rejected plantain pulp holds high potential as an ingredient for the production of prebiotic compounds such as IMO.

Conceptual design of mechatronic products using PDS-TRIZ

Conceptual design of mechatronic products using PDS-TRIZ

Conceptual Design and Selection of Natural Fibre Reinforced Biopolymer Composite (NFBC) Takeout Food Container

Biopolymer composite has gained huge attention for its beneficial properties such as biodegradable and less impact to the environment. This consequently would diminish the dependency on the petroleum-based polymer. Abundance of studies have been done on the development and characterization of biopolymer composite materials for food packaging application, but work on the conceptual design of biopolymer composite packaging product is hardly found. Using the Kano Model, Quality Function Deployment for Environment (QFDE), morphological map, and Analytic Hierarchy Method (AHP) framework combination, this paper presents the conceptual design of a natural fibre reinforced biopolymer composites take-out food container. To understand customer satisfaction with the current use of takeout food containers, the Kano model was applied, and the findings were integrated into QFDE. The highest weight of voices of customer and environment (VOCE) as the solution parameters for the design characteristics were later refined using the aid of morphological chart (MC) to systematically develop conceptual designs. Lastly, AHP was utilized to pick the final concept design. The concept design with the highest score (8.3%) was chosen as the final conceptual design.

Conceptual design of mechatronic products using PDS-TRIZ

Conceptual design of mechatronic products using PDS-TRIZ

Teaching Market-Driven Engineering Design with an Agent-Based Simulation Tool

In product design, there is often a disconnect between the engineers creating the product and the marketing team determining the best characteristics for the product. The research areas of “design for market systems” and “decision-based design” seek to bridge that disconnect through quantitative approaches that facilitate simultaneous technical design and marketing decisions. However, these market driven design frameworks have been primarily evaluated in the context of industry case studies, with limited integration into engineering education. This article presents the development and implementation of a simulation tool for teaching market-driven design in undergraduate engineering design courses. This classroom tool demonstrates the basic relationships between product design decisions, pricing and marketing choices, and predicted market success, by simulating the interactions among producers and consumers in a market system. The product attributes influence the cost and consumer utility of the product, which, along with price, affect market dynamics. The simulator was implemented in a third-year undergraduate design course to introduce the concept of market-driven product design, allowing student design teams to assess the impacts of different design variables on the market success of their design projects. Surveys and written reflections by the students were used to evaluate the simulator’s value in contributing to self-reported learning. The results showed that a majority of students expressed that the simulator provides a meaningful and engaging way to learn about market-driven design concepts.

Case Study for Product Development Innovation Based on Design Thinking Approach, Demonstrated by Smart Furniture Project

The paper intends to demonstrate the functional role and application of methods provided by the design thinking mindset when the team should create an innovative product design concept in a multidiscipline environment. First, the essential description and features of a design thinking mindset are significant for the discussed topic are introduced, along with defining the specialties and expected output of the featured smart furniture project. Second, after a clear view of the applicable mindset, the paper aims to sketch the project scope by reasoning the applied design thinking methods and highlighting the product design process’s challenges. Finally, the article makes a definite conclusion for demonstrating the design thinking mindset's experienced application, completed by the detailed evaluation of research questions based on empirical data. The purpose of the article is, on the one hand, to highlight the role and significance of the design thinking mindset in an innovative project. On the other hand, emphasizing that well-chosen methods in the right team composition with a well-defined problem already carries the key to the solution. The paper's novelty is the detailed practical description confirmed by concrete results of successfully applied methods needed to design a clear vision and scope for a multidiscipline team by design thinking mindset.