Muhamad Arfauz A Rahman

Development of theoretical reconfiguration structure for manufacturing automation systems

This paper presents a proposed structured model to capture user requirements for reconfiguring flexible manufacturing automation systems. The idea of this model is to allow the manufacturer to easily reconfigure their automation system quickly with minimal investment. The model utilises the integration definition for function modelling (IDEF0) technique. It involves determining the components for the system to be reconfigured based on work scenario descriptions. The work scenario descriptions generally present user requirements. These requirements are simplified, extracted and manipulated to provide with system specification. The model also requires information of existing components stored in the database. At this stage, the reconfiguration is simplified.

Design methodology for manufacturing automation system reconfiguration

The fluctuating customer demand especially in product requirements and system specifications these days requires system design engineers to configure and reconfigure the manufacturing system regularly. This paper elaborates a configuration study of a manufacturing system as well as illustrating basic design methodology of capturing user requirements and specifications for flexible reconfiguration in manufacturing automation system. The configuration study was conducted to accumulate various design outcomes from a given manufacturing process. The manufacturing process chosen for the study describes a simple yet easy to understand process in which groups of system design engineers were required to produce potential design configurations suitable for the process. The outcomes are then utilized to formulate a general rules for the configuration and reconfiguration methodology. The methodology presented is based on the steps and work descriptions provided by the user requirements and specifications. In order to simplify the configuration and reconfiguration works, method of capturing user requirements and specifications is required. The later idea of undergoing this research is to find suitable method to capture and manipulate the user requirements and specifications and later provide an optimum solution for the design of flexible and reconfigurable manufacturing automation system. Once completed, the methodology can be a value added advantage to the future of configuration and reconfiguration framework for the manufacturing automation system. In addition to that, the industry will benefit from the outcomes of the research by having the ability to optimize the system and minimizing the risk of investment of new system at a faster pace.Copyright

Design and Analysis of Linear Quadratic Regulator for a Non-Linear Positioning System

The control of rotary inverted pendulum is a case of classical robust controller design of non-linear system applications. In the control system design, a precise system model is a pre-requisite for an enhanced and optimum control performance. This paper describes the dynamic system model of an inverted pendulum system. The mathematical model was derived, linearized at the upright equilibrium points and validated using non-linear least square frequency domain identification approach based on measured frequency response function of the physical system. Besides that, a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) controller was designed as the balancing controller for the pendulum. An extensive analysis was performed on the effect of the weighting parameter Q on the static time of arm, balance time of pendulum, oscillation, as well as, response of arm and pendulum, in order to determine the optimum state-feedback control vector, K. Furthermore, the optimum control vector was successfully applied and validated on the physical system to stabilize the pendulum in its upright position. In the experimental validation, the LQR controller was able to keep the pendulum in its upright position even in the presence of external disturbance forces.

Configuring robot work cell in manufacturing industry

In this study, we have focused on the configuration of robot work cells since their ever-increasing adoption and the current manufacturing trends towards the automation along with a continuous improvement of the innovative technology. Also, we have highlighted and reviewed the different emerging strategies which focus on the configuration work and we have discussed and proposed a configuration strategy with its methodology. The earlier studies were reviewed to present an overview regarding any future work in this field. Additionally, a configuration strategy along with all the details regarding its phases and frameworks had been proposed which may assist in the development of flexible configuration system in the future. The primary purpose of this work is to propose a strategy with a methodology of robot work cell configuration for addressing few sustainability issues such as to improve configuration time, to optimise human and expert involvement and to capitalise available resource for investment.

Development of System Identification for Piezoelectric Patch Actuator

This paper presents the development of the system identification (SI) for the highly nonlinear piezoelectric patch actuator. The transfer function is determined by using the nonlinear least square (NLS) method after the direct measurements of input-output data are taken from the actuator that is installed on a well-equipped platform. The results were validated to ensure that the transfer function derived fits well with the experimental output.

Transformation of system action for reconfigurable automation work system

The main idea of this paper is recent about the transformation of system actions extracted from the user requirement. The system actions are required before the implementation of reconfigurable automation work system. System actions are selected base on suitability of a process. Later, each system actions are matched with suitable system components to create a set of system specification. This specification is used to implement the automation system for each process. The developments of the automation work systems are limited by some constraints such as number of component used as well as the availability of component in the repository system.

Improved decision making in lean manufacturing using simulation-based approach

This study aims to enhance the efficacy of decision-making process in ascertaining waste by means of simulation. Waste involving any tasks that are unable to make any value addition to products from the consumers side. Simulation can be deployed to improve the decision-making as well as knowledge of a lean practitioner (LP). To assess the production system and make decision-making more precise, a simulation-based approach was formulated and applied. The results established that production cost and waiting time can be reduced through worker arrangement.

Design of an Ergonomic Acquisition and Monitoring Framework in Assembly Task

Optimum working conditions, such as body posture, body movement and working environment are commonly not directly known to the worker. In fact, the worker current working conditions are rarely provided. Although some may find it unnecessary, a mechanism to provide information on this situation is deemed to be useful. This paper presents a proposed framework for acquiring and monitoring ergonomic parameters. There are six potential useful parameters proposed in this study. The parameters include temperature, light, vibration, body posture, indoor air quality, and noise. In the proposed framework, the capturing device and signal converter are regarded as the main components. The framework is proposed to capture all parameters in the analog signal, and later convert it into the digital signal using the signal converter. At this stage, NI cDAQ-9188 is proposed to be used as the signal converter in the framework. The preliminary work of the proposed framework will be developed in the lab, while the implementation will be conducted at the chosen industry. It is hoped that the proposed framework will benefit industry and promote a safe working environment in the industry, especially for assembly tasks.