Product Shape Design Research Articles

Cognitive differences in product shape evaluation between real settings and virtual reality: case study of two-wheel electric vehicles

Product shape evaluation is an important part of new product development. In the shape design stage, design schemes are often presented through visual images. The presentation of visual images causes evaluators to form different cognitive experiences and evaluation results. In recent years, virtual reality (VR) technology has been widely used in the field of industrial design, enriching the presentation forms of design scheme images. Although VR technology has shown the potential to improve evaluators’ perception and cognitive experiences in product shape design, research comparing it with traditional methods remains relatively scattered. This study used two-wheel electric vehicles as an example to examine the difference in evaluators’ cognition of product shape in VR and a real setting (RS). First, we established a semantic scale comprising seven pairs of opposite adjectives to evaluate the shape scheme. Second, we built VR and RS evaluation environments using head-mounted displays and paper renderings, respectively. The participants evaluated the vehicle shape design in alternating viewing and underwent semi-structured interviews on cognitive experience. We analyzed the experimental and interview results based on three aspects of product shape cognition. The results demonstrated that volume cognition was significantly more accurate in VR environments. Furthermore, graphic cognition, particularly regarding shape details, differed partially between environments. VR provided a better sense of immersion and more variable viewing angles than RS. Treatment cognition did not exhibit significant differences between environments, as it depended on human experience rather than visualization. These findings suggest that VR tools are more suited for shaping design evaluations early. Selecting suitable visual presentation tools based on evaluators’ cognitive characteristics at different evaluation nodes to display design schemes is a practical, economical, and efficient strategy.

The effect analysis of shape design of different charging piles based on Human physiological characteristics using the MF-DFA

With the rapid development of new energy vehicles, the users have an increasing demand for charging piles. It is generally believed that the charging pile is a kind of practical product, and it only needs to realize the charging function. However, as a product, the shape design of the charging pile will directly affect the user experience, thus affecting product sales. Therefore, in the face of increasingly fierce market competition, when designing the shape of charging piles, it is necessary to adopt the traditional evaluation method and human physiological cognitive characteristics to evaluate the shape of charging piles more objectively. From the user’s point of view, using the electroencephalogram (EEG) of the user, with the help of the multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MF-DFA) method, this paper comprehensively analyzes the differences in emotional cognitive characteristics between two kinds of charging piles, namely, the charging pile with a curved appearance design and the charging pile with square appearance design. The results show that there are significant differences in human physiological cognitive characteristics between two kinds of charging piles with different shapes. And different shapes of charging piles have different physiological cognitive differences for users. When designing charging pile product shapes, human beings can objectively evaluate the product shape design according to the physiological cognition differences of users, so as to optimize the charging pile product shape design.

Construction of Local-Shape-Controlled Quartic Generalized Said-Ball Model

Said-Ball curves and surfaces are extensively applied in the realm of geometric modeling. Their appearance is only decided by the control points, which produces a great deal of inconvenience for the shape design of sophisticated products. To overcome this defect, we construct a novel kind of quartic generalized Said-Ball (QGS-Ball, for short) curves and surfaces, which contain multiple shape parameters, and the global and local shape can be easily modified via shape parameters. The specific research contents are as follows: Firstly, the QGS-Ball basis functions carrying multiple shape parameters are defined, and the correlative properties are proved. Secondly, the QGS-Ball curve is proposed according to the QGS-Ball basis functions, and the effect of shape parameters on the curve is discussed. Thirdly, in view of the constructed QGS-Ball curve, we further propose the combined quartic generalized Said-Ball (CQGS-Ball, for short) curves, and deduce the conditions of first-order and second-order geometric continuity (namely, G1 and G2 continuity). Finally, the QGS-Ball surface is defined by tensor product method, and the influence of shape parameters on the surface is analyzed. The main contribution of this article is to construct the QGS-Ball curve model, and deduce the G1 and G2 geometric joining conditions of QGS-Ball curves. Combined with some modeling examples, it further illustrates that the QGS-Ball curve as a new geometric model provides a powerful supplement for the geometric design of sophisticated form in computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) systems.

Deep Learning Methods of Cross-Modal Tasks for Conceptual Design of Product Shapes: A Review

Abstract Conceptual design is the foundational stage of a design process that translates ill-defined design problems into low-fidelity design concepts and prototypes through design search, creation, and integration. In this stage, product shape design is one of the most paramount aspects. When applying deep learning-based methods to product shape design, two major challenges exist: (1) design data exhibit in multiple modalities and (2) an increasing demand for creativity. With recent advances in deep learning of cross-modal tasks (DLCMTs), which can transfer one design modality to another, we see opportunities to develop artificial intelligence (AI) to assist the design of product shapes in a new paradigm. In this paper, we conduct a systematic review of the retrieval, generation, and manipulation methods for DLCMT that involve three cross-modal types: text-to-3D shape, text-to-sketch, and sketch-to-3D shape. The review identifies 50 articles from a pool of 1341 papers in the fields of computer graphics, computer vision, and engineering design. We review (1) state-of-the-art DLCMT methods that can be applied to product shape design and (2) identify the key challenges, such as lack of consideration of engineering performance in the early design phase that need to be addressed when applying DLCMT methods. In the end, we discuss the potential solutions to these challenges and propose a list of research questions that point to future directions of data-driven conceptual design.

Novel solid-state metal powder surface modification process for additive manufacturing of metal matrix composites and alloys

Although metal additive manufacturing has been widely studied owing to its flexible product shape design, the material selection window for metal additive manufacturing remains narrow owing to limited feedstocks. To address the challenges in additive manufacturing, an innovative metal powder fabrication process was developed in this study. This process is known as surface modification and reinforcement transplantation (SMART), and it efficiently produces surface-modified feedstock powders, such as spheroidized, surface-alloyed, surface-coated, or composite powders, which facilitate the exploration of new alloys and composites via additive manufacturing. In this study, the working principles of the SMART process were established, and some practical applications of the SMART process were considered by fabricating specialized metal additive manufacturing feedstocks such as carbon nanotube-coated, Mo alloyed, and TiC particle-reinforced Inconel 625 powders. Furthermore, Mo-alloyed and TiC particle-reinforced powders were utilized in the directed energy deposition process to validate the performance of the SMART powder by fabricating Mo-controlled alloy and TiC particle-reinforced composites. The SMART process was compared with the existing processes and proved to be advantageous. Therefore, this study provides a novel method for producing feedstock powders for additive manufacturing.

Evaluation Method of Product Shape Features based on Multidimension Spatial Data Mining

Analysis of product shape design has attracted more and more attention of researchers because it can make products better meet perceptual needs. Based on the theory of spatial data mining, this study proposes an evaluation method of a product shape design scheme. The method proposed in this study not only obtains the shape design of the overall and local features of the product, which solves the problem of the insufficient utilization of spatial data by the analysis method. During the simulation process, the model obtains the product shape design and appeal from the online evaluation spatial data, which can integrate the product perceptual knowledge in the spatial data, which greatly reduces the manual operation steps and the required time for the degree of data utilization. The experimental results show that after the obtained data are filtered to extract the feature words, the weight of the feature words is calculated by the TF-IDF method, the number of neighbors is increased from 1 to 30, the interval is 5, and the vectorized representation of the spatial data is constructed. The similarity between the calculation sentences of the data mining method is 89.7%, which effectively improves the support function and design efficiency of spatial data mining for product design.

(Retracted) Application of image fusion algorithm based on digital media technology in modeling design

The product modeling design is the concrete manifestation of realizing the unified identification goal of the corporate image. It can shape and disseminate the corporate image, create individual brands, and win in the fierce market competition. The product modeling design needs to serve the overall image design of the enterprise, with product design as the core, around people’s needs for products, and to the greatest extent possible to meet the needs of individuals and society to obtain a general sense of recognition. It changes people’s way of life and improves the quality and level of life. Different pieces of information need to be combined when designing a product. To achieve the best effect, we aim to study the application of image fusion algorithm based on digital media technology in modeling design. Digital media technology is a technology that combines abstract numbers, physical media, and computer technology. It is a generation of digital media technology for digital audio, digital video, digital film, computer animation, virtual reality, and so on. A compressed sensing multifocus image fusion algorithm based on non-subsampled shearlet transform is proposed. It improves the efficiency of the fusion algorithm without affecting the visual effect. We analyze the shape design of wearable smart products, summarizes the characteristics of product shape design, as well as the aesthetic value is shown, and summarizes the entry point of product shape design. The experimental results of this paper show that the proportion of choosing the classic style is 55.3%, which shows that people are more comfortable with the classic style, so they are more likely to buy. Health monitoring is the mainstream function of wearable products, and its proportion is as high as 71.3%, indicating that people are more concerned about health issues.

Modeling Design of Ceramic Products Based on Digital Image Processing Technology

With the improvement of people’s living standards, people’s pursuit of art is also getting higher and higher. Ceramic products are artistic works whose meanings contain thousands of stories including mountains, waters, and rivers. Ceramic products include vases, tea sets, flower pots, plates, and rice bowls. A vase is a vessel, mostly made of ceramic or glass, with a beautiful and smooth appearance. The bottom of the vase usually holds water, which keeps the plants alive and beautiful. Tea utensils refer to tea-drinking utensils such as tea cups, teapots, tea bowls, tea cups, saucers, and tea trays in a narrow sense. There are many kinds of tea sets in China, with beautiful shapes. In addition to practical value, they also have high artistic value, so they are well known at home and abroad and are favored by tea lovers in all dynasties. Digital image processing is the use of computers to remove noise and enhance, restore, segment, and extract features from images. Discrete mathematics is a mathematical subject that studies the structure of discrete quantities and their interrelationships and is an important branch of modern mathematics. The meaning of discrete refers to different elements connected together, mainly to study the structure and mutual relationship based on discrete quantities. Its objects are generally limited or countable elements. With the continuous development of digital image processing technology, this technology has also been applied to the shape design of ceramic products. This paper mainly conducts in-depth research on the preprocessing algorithm of digital images, from the initial analysis of the historical culture of the process to the subsequent algorithm research. Then its accuracy is matched to make a comparison, and finally an estimate based on the ceramics studied in this paper will be made. In the experimental part, the public is first investigated and analyzed, and the conclusion shows that the results of the color investigation of ceramic products include the following aspects: There are about 103 people having more needs for light and elegant color feeling, which echoes the needs of modeling. There are around 97 people demanding that the color be combined with the shape to reflect the color difference between the interior and the exterior. Since the internal and external chromatic aberration and mixed colors will bring novelty to the appearance of ceramic products, there are also a large number of people in the demand for mixed colors, about 84 people. Then it is analyzed that the ink-and-wash ceramics in the landscape style are more popular, and then the detailed description is carried out. Finally, the finished product is displayed.

Product Shape Design Scheme Evaluation Method Based on Spatial Data Mining

The stage of product modeling design implies a lot of complex tacit knowledge, which is the embodiment of the design concept centered on product modeling design and is also the hot spot and difficulty of modern design theory and method research. Aiming at the evaluation and decision of product modeling design scheme, a decision-making method of approaching ideal solution ranking based on grey relational analysis was proposed, which realized the convergence of tacit knowledge. The empty association rule is an important knowledge content of spatial data mining. A fuzzy genetic algorithm can solve the characteristics of random and nonlinear problems and solve the data mining problems of spatial association rules. The fuzzy genetic algorithm of discrete crossover probability and mutation probability is applied to data mining of spatial association rules in a spatial database, the coding method of the fuzzy genetic algorithm and the construction of fitness function are discussed, and the process of mining spatial association rules is given. The results show that the method of mining s association rules with the fuzzy genetic algorithm is feasible and has higher mining efficiency. This paper discusses the construction method of designing a decision support database based on linear regression and neural network and then proposes a decision method combining TOPSIS and grey relational analysis, which comprehensively considers the position and shape of the scheme data curve.

Evaluation Model of Product Shape Design Scheme Based on Fuzzy Genetic Algorithm Mining Spatial Association Rules

Put forward a kind of association rules mining method based on fuzzy genetic algorithm, this approach by building a mining model, the association rules and fuzzy genetic algorithm fuses in together, and then given to the fitness function of the mining space, and uses threshold to limit the fuzzy genetic algorithm will cross distribution and compile the fitness function, the improved method excavation stability is strong, the mining accuracy is high. The clustering analysis method of multidimensional fuzzy genetic algorithm mapping association network is studied, and the multidimensional module layout target is analyzed by using fuzzy hierarchical analysis technology and improved genetic algorithm combined with the clustering target of each angle, and the module division of each angle is realized. The main structure of the product is constructed with process model as the integration framework, style as the organization form, and feature list as the expression mechanism. The product characteristics based on fuzzy genetic algorithm are studied, the main structure configuration design process model mapping relation analysis, combined with the main structure of the joint model, together to achieve the fuzzy genetic algorithm (GA) variant design of fine-grained axiomatic mode, based on the associated network building and integration of new product design process, product structure of multidimensional optimization problem is solved.

Social Computational Design Method for Generating Product Shapes with GAN and Transformer Models

A social computational design method is established, aiming at taking advantages of the fast-developing artificial intelligence technologies for intelligent product design. Supported with multi-agent system, shape grammar, Generative adversarial network, Bayesian network, Transformer, etc., the method is able to define the design solution space, prepare training samples, and eventually acquire an intelligent model that can recommend design solutions according to incomplete solutions for given design tasks. Product shape design is used as entry point to demonstrate the method, however, the method can be applied to tasks rather than shape design when the solutions can be properly coded.

A Product Shape Design and Evaluation Model Based on Morphology Preference and Macroscopic Shape Information.

A product form design and evaluation model are proposed. In this method, the forms can be evaluated by three sub-evaluation models which can help designers to grasp consumers’ preferences. In the process, the overall shape is first disassembled into several shape elements, and a morphological chart is constructed. Then, the priority of shape elements is analyzed through the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process, and several required combinations are selected from a morphological chart. Moreover, the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (I), preference questionnaire (II), and quadratic curvature entropy (III) of the selected combinations are analyzed. Finally, the results of I, II, and III are compared. In conclusion, the three sub-evaluation systems are consistent, which confirms the applicability of the proposed model.

Approximation of photovoltaic characteristics curves using Bézier Curve

Accuracy of solar cell model parameters is now a requirement for the manufacturing of appropriate photovoltaic models. Consequently, the methodologies of the parameters had already attracted immense interest among researchers over the years. This paper deals about the approximation of the characteristics curves of a solar cell using the Bézier curve method. This technique is selected to overcome the problems of the non-linearity, complexity, multivariate and multimodal of the characteristic's curves. The Bézier curves method is a parametric curve used throughout computer graphics and related disciplines. It is a robust methodology for constructing free-form curves, surfaces, shape design, and geometric representation of various products. Six different cases are carried out to test the validity of the proposed method, they are: (i) organic flexible dual junction amorphous silicon solar cell, (ii) silicon solar cell, (iii) Schutten Solar STP6-120/36 polycrystalline photovoltaic module, (iv) Schutten Solar STM6-40/36 monocrystalline photovoltaic module, (v) Photowatt-PWP 201 polycrystalline photovoltaic module and (vi) 230-W multi-silicon photovoltaic module under partial shading conditions. The technique is implemented and adapted by the mean of the De Casteljo algorithm to optimize the control points and minimize the distance between the experimental and calculated points. It is based on subdividing the curve into various segments and controlled by control points using the De Casteljo algorithm to minimize the distance between the experimental and theoretical points. The performance of the approximated characteristics curves is compared with experimental data as well as recent algorithms and techniques from the literature. For more validity, statistical error metrics from literature are computed and compared to ensure the accuracy of the approximated results and the performance of the proposed method. For instance, the comparison is carried out by resorting to the Individual Absolute Error (IAE) and the Relative Error (RE). Further, the Bias metrics and accuracy are calculated using the Autocorrelation Function (ACF), Tracking Signal (TS), and Normalized Forecast Metric (NFM). The proposed method provides a low error for the six case studies and better than that obtained by the other algorithms.

The Fusion of Eye Movement and Piezoelectric Sensing Technology Assists Ceramic Art Process Optimization and Mechanical Characterization

Ceramic product shape evaluation is an important part of product development, an important method to optimize product shape design, and is of great significance to reasonably locate users’ consumption psychology and promote the development of ceramic product industry. In this paper, we propose an eye‐tracking‐based evaluation method for ceramic products from the user’s point of view, in view of the fact that there are few studies on ceramic product shape evaluation, and it is mainly led by designers and enterprise leaders subjectively, with low user participation and lack of objective evaluation means and objective data support. In this paper, through the implementation of eye‐movement experiments, we obtain and analyze the eye‐movement data related to the semantic perception evaluation of product modeling and the overall evaluation of modeling, establish the mapping relationship between user evaluation and eye‐movement data, and provide objective data support for modeling evaluation. This paper provides an objective data support for the styling evaluation. This paper provides new ideas for the ceramic product modeling evaluation method, which helps to promote the development of ceramic product industry, improve the brand recognition of enterprises, and help the marketing personnel to make reasonable marketing planning plans. For the semantic perceptual evaluation of ceramic product styling based on eye‐tracking, the effectiveness of product styling design concept communication is evaluated. Ceramic products are constantly changing and developing, with new shapes appearing and old shapes being eliminated. Continual innovation and development of ceramics based on inherited traditions can give them a new look and color under the existing modeling style. Compared with other categories, although ceramic modeling has relatively abstract formal characteristics, but it is the extension of the modeling, still has obvious morphological characteristics, and the impact on people’s aesthetic mood.

Flow Analysis of Insert Molding Using Injection Molding CAE

Injection molding CAE is employed to analyze the flow process of insert molding. The goals of the analysis are to reduce the number of injection processes required in injection molding, to impart greater added value to the product, and to advance injection molding technology. The importance of an analysis for the weld lines that occur when the mold is filled with plastic and that may lead to lower product quality in addition to an displacements in the insert-molded part due to plastic shrinkage is pointed out. This paper will report about the importance of the previous injection molding CAE for actual fabrication to investigate the product shape design and molding conditions.

A Physical Deformation Method Based on Shape Constraint for Product Shape Design

In this paper, a modeling method based on physical deformation is described. The proposed method is designed to solve the modeling of deformation products with requirements such as a local shape requirement or space assembly. It is utilized to designing products by analogy to balloon inflating, and the deformation process obeys physical laws of motion. First of all, the boundary of spatial constraint of deformable component is obtained according to design requirements and assembly environment. Secondly, component is initialized by a simplified mass-spring model, and the process of expansion is simulated by increasing the internal pressure until the deformation extent meets the needs. Finally, several examples are illustrated for verifying this method. Comparing to traditional design method, this method gets concept model under the condition of design constraint firstly, then regards the concept model as references for detail design. Therefore, the idea can avoid repeated modification of artificial design and shorten design period significantly.

Complex CAD surface shape design using semantic features

To a large extent, the success of the product shape design depends on whether the geometric modeling systems can satisfy more and more complicated design demands in the engineering field. This paper proposes a shape design method based on semantic features for complex CAD surface. By the proposed method, we can easily meet the complicated design requirements, since the semantic can effectively represent the design intent. We discussed three aspects in shape design using semantic features, which are semantic design demands of the target surface, geometric constraints in accordance with semantic features, and surface shape deformation under the geometric constraints, respectively. The basic semantic features of geometric models drive the deformation of the target surface shape by changing the related constraint, and the desirable features are added to the CAD surface shape. The examples of the car shape design are presented to verify the effectives of our method.

Quality Improvement of Deformed Mesh Models for FEA by Density and Geometry-recovering Phased ODT Smoothing

ABSTRACTFor realizing efficient product shape design, many dimension-driven mesh deformation methods have been proposed. However, the deformed mesh models often include many distorted elements, and lose the original mesh properties (mesh density and shape approximation accuracy). To solve these problems, we propose a quality improvement method for the deformed tetrahedral mesh models. Our method is based on Optimal Delaunay Triangulation (ODT) smoothing with edge split and edge collapse. In our method, element shape qualities are improved from the boundary to the inside of the mesh model, and original mesh properties are recovered in the deformed mesh models by an additional step in the ODT smoothing. In addition, degenerated and inverted elements are removed by local topological operations. The effectiveness of our method is demonstrated by applications to some simple mesh models.

Basic Principles and New Methods on Emotional Product Design

Emotional design is one of the most important methods in modern product design. It was highlighted after Donald A. Norman published his book Emotional design: why we love (or hate) everyday things. Emotional design addresses people’s needs and hopes which is in the center of the development of product design and product technology. Due to the lack of strong theoretical basis and quantitative analysis, many products can’t reach the goal of their designers with Emotional feelings, nor can consumer’s emotional understandings be similar to the designers’ emotional expectations. This paper analyzes the concept of emotional design and some difficulties which designers must to be faced in their emotional designing works, discusses on product shape design according to emotional design. On this basis, the Kansei engineering and emotional design methods are described in details.

Basic Principles and New Methods on Emotional Product Design

Emotional design is one of the most important methods in modern product design. It was highlighted after Donald A. Norman published his book Emotional design: why we love (or hate) everyday things. Emotional design addresses people’s needs and hopes which is in the center of the development of product design and product technology. Due to the lack of strong theoretical basis and quantitative analysis, many products can’t reach the goal of their designers with Emotional feelings, nor can consumer’s emotional understandings be similar to the designers’ emotional expectations. This paper analyzes the concept of emotional design and some difficulties which designers must to be faced in their emotional designing works, discusses on product shape design according to emotional design. On this basis, the Kansei engineering and emotional design methods are described in details.