Carsten Stechert

Clustering Regional-Specific Requirements as a Methodology to Define the Modules of a Car Concept

The increasing globalization in the automotive industry creates worldwide new target groups. Because of that, regional-specific requirements have to be considered in the vehicle development process. This increases the complexity in conception of the vehicle’s design. In order to create vehicles economically the depth of production must not go up disproportionately. To develop systematically various factors in the vicinity of a vehicle and further to demonstrate them, in relation to the technical characteristics of a vehicle concept, a model was created in the early stages of the developing process. Finally the characteristics will be clustered to so-called ‘prototypes’, which also summarize required similar characteristics from the customer. In this case the prototypes represent a compromise between the large numbers of regional-specific alternatives and less economical ones.

The Effects of Regional Specific Requirements on the Development of Vehicle Concepts

Changes in markets and technology of automobiles amplify the issue of fulfilling the requirements for as many customers as possible with a new vehicle concept. An increasing development of regional markets demands vehicle concepts or derivatives, which fit to the customer’s wishes and satisfy the regional specific needs.

Knowledge-Based Design Principles and Tools for Parallel Robots

Complex products such as parallel robots need sophisticated management of knowledge and an integrated use of different tools during the whole product development process.

Produktarten zur Rationalisierung des Entwicklungs- und Konstruktionsprozesses

In vielen Unternehmen wachsen Produktspektren uber Jahre. Werden vom Kunden explizit oder auch implizit durch Marktforschung neue Produkte oder Produkte mit geanderten Spezifikationen angefragt, so werden neue Varianten entwickelt. Ziel dabei ist es, einem Ruckgang des Absatzes entgegenzuwirken. Durch die Einfuhrung neuer Varianten kommt es jedoch zu einer Erhohung der Innenkomplexitat, z. B. durch mehr unterschiedliche Bauteile und Fertigungsprozesse, wodurch weitere Kosten (insbesondere Gemeinkosten ) entstehen. Wenn dem keine ausreichende Erhohung der Absatzvolumina gegenubersteht, werden die Produkte insgesamt zu hoheren Preisen angeboten werden mussen, um kostendeckend zu arbeiten. Dieses fuhrt letztendlich zu einem Verlust der Wettbewerbsfahigkeit und einem weiteren Ruckgang der Absatzvolumina.

A FRAMEWORK FOR THE APPLICATION OF ADAPTRONIC SOLUTION PRINCIPLES

There is an increasing need for products that are able to react to changing operating conditions and user demands to achieve a high level of performance. Adaptronic solutions allow for property adjustments without major effects on system weight and size when they are applied in early phases of the design process. Since a framework for the design of adaptronic solutions is not yet established, this paper introduces an initial procedure and principles to provide design knowledge. The paper first gives an overview on adaptronics and adaptability as well as principles and guidelines for designing adaptable products. Fifteen adaptronic solution principles are derived from adaptronic solutions to provide the information needed for the design of adaptable products. A framework is proposed to apply the introduced principles within the conceptual design phase to avoid design conflicts and undesired effects. Finally, the framework is used for the design of adaptive joints for robotic applications.Copyright

Adaptronic Solution Principles: Potential to Flexible Design

This contribution introduces the concept of adaptronic solution principles (Alp) to support the development of products for changing requirements. Based on an approved understanding of flexible products, three aspects are proposed to characterize Alp. Since adaptronic systems are object of current research, a set of solutions is analyzed concerning the aspects design flexibility, product flexibility and realization concept. This analysis points out major characteristics of Alp and their potential to close conflicting requirements and affect product properties within the use phase automatically. Finally, the introduced Alp are applied for the development of an adaptronic coupler within a new drive concept for serial kinematic manipulators.

Anforderungsmanagement und Werkzeuge für Leichtbauweisen auf dem Weg zum Multi-Material-Design

Durch die jahrhundertelange Erfahrung in der Entwicklung und Herstellung von Fahrzeugen entsteht das Auto, wie es heutzutage auf unseren Strasen zu sehen ist. Die vermeintlichen Erwartungen des Fahrers und der Passagiere an ein Fahrzeug werden haufig durch die Summe aller Anforderungen beschrieben, die andere Fahrzeuge in der Vergangenheit erfullt haben. Das Ergebnis ist eine schrittweise Verbesserung in jeder neuen Fahrzeuggeneration. Durch die Veranderung wichtiger Fahrzeugkomponenten, wie z. B. Ersetzen des klassischen Verbrennungsmotors durch einen Elektromotor oder die Einfuhrung neuer Werkstofftechnologien, werden die Anforderungen und die Beziehung zwischen ihnen erheblich beeinflusst [1]. Das Uberdenken traditioneller Fahrzeugkonzepte erfordert auch eine Neubewertung der in der Vergangenheit gewachsenen Anforderungskollektive. Auserdem mussen in einer globalisierten Welt die Unterschiede und Unsicherheiten verschiedener Markte und Regierungen in einem gemeinsamen Modell abgebildet werden, damit Einflussfaktoren (Fahrzeug Entwicklungserfahrung, Systemkomponenten, Anforderungen, Zukunftsszenarien) beschreibbar werden und der Entwickler eine Methode und ein Werkzeug erhalt, um fundierte Entscheidungen zu treffen.

Methodology for the Objectification of Decisions in the Product Development

In order to develop the best possible product enterprises have to consider multiple solutions during the product engineering process. In early phases of the product development process enterprises generally reduce the number of possible solutions by focusing only on a few solutions to minimize development time and costs. However, in the early phases enterprises are not able to make an objective choice for the best possible product, because of missing information. To evaluate multiple solutions and nevertheless develop a cost effective product the enterprises have the aim to simplify and to objectify the decision process especially in the early phases of the product development process. Therefore the enterprises need a methodology to enable objective decisions.

Demand-Driven Development of Parallel Robots with Adaptronic Components by a Modular System

Parallel robots provide high stiffness, accelerations and accuracy. They are relatively complex products that are specialized to a specific problem. Normally a new robot is designed for every new task. This paper shows an approach that makes it possible to configure parallel robots by demand and therefore to use adaptronic components in a reasonable context.