Osiris Canciglieri Junior

A Prosthesis Design Based on Genetic Algorithms in the Concurrent Engineering Context

Concurrent engineering is an important philosophy in achieving better time to market in new product development. While the use of design teams is achieving some success there is a need for modern software tools which support the design process to be radically improved. In this context, the research explores the use of three-dimensional images reconstructed from computed tomography that provides support for prosthesis modeling in CAD (Computer-Aided Design) system. This article presents a method for using a genetic algorithm (GA) that improves the virtual modeling applied to prosthesis conception. In the context, the GA was used to fit an ellipse in order to fill completely a defect in a skull. The bone piece that was missed in skull could be virtually created using the arcs extracted from the adjusted ellipses for each tomographic slice and it can generates profiles from the cloud of points in order to build a 3D geometric model using a CAD system. A synthetic image of the missing bone piece was built using the GA to fill its defect in the skull.

Proposal of a Model-Driven Ontology for Product Development Process Interoperability and Information Sharing

The semantic interoperability of information has become increasingly important in Product Development Process (PDP) to support different phases during the product development. This article presents a proposal of an Interoperable Product Design and Manufacturing System (IPDMS) concept based on a set of engineering domain ontologies and sematic mapping approaches. The concept explores the potentials of semantic well-defined core-foundations in a Semantic Web ontology language. The formal core-foundations can be specialised to perform application view in Product or Manufacturing Model. The application view is used to support the information sharing between product design and manufacturing and verify the accordance with product requirements. A preliminary experimental has been realised, using a test case to share information from the design to manufacturing of an injection moulding plastic. As results, it was identified potential benefits and limitations. The mains contributions are: semantic interoperability during information sharing in PDP and analysis of inconsistencies in PDP.

Multidisciplinary Systems Concepts Applied to R&D Projects Promoted by Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL)

This article addresses the concepts of multidisciplinary projects focusing on the technological innovation recommended by the R&D Program of the Agencia Nacional de Energia Eletrica (Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency)–ANEEL, under which are subject all the Brazilian electrical utilities through the federal law 9.991/2000. The R&D Program provides the directions for the electrical energy research and development offering the criteria for the elaboration of the proposals of researches projects. Until recently the product development processes were not part of the electrical utility routine, what it becomes clear that it was necessary more knowledge about the whole research and development process what has showed the lack of the adequate methodological methods. This work presents the main points of a new approach as well as the study of the product development tools applied in the elaboration of the projects proposals. Therefore it is expected that this new approach brings a better R&D projects quality and consequently a significant reduction of the time, development and reengineering costs.

A Reasoning System to Support the Dental Implant Planning Process

The technological evolution over the last decades brought the necessity of integration among different areas of knowledge and an example is the integration between the Odontology and Engineering in order to find new solutions to improve the surgical process of dental implants. This work proposes a reasoning system to support the implant planning process based on tomographic images which offers support to the dentist. The system creates a three dimensional model of the dental arch and interact with the dentist supporting him in the selection of the most appropriate implant. So, the reasoning proceedings is divided into stages, the first is for selecting the region of interest inside the bone and the second is for defining the implant which should be used. This system is a planning tool to assist the dentist during the pre-operative, it will help him in the decision making. The article’s main contributions are: i) conception and development of a computational reasoning tool that supports the process of dental implantation; ii) the interactivity in the development of surgical planning through a three-dimensional geometric model of the dental arch; iii) the reduction of surgical time.

Interoperable manufacturing knowledge systems

For many years now, the importance of semantic technologies, that provide a formal, logic-based route to sharing meaning, has been recognised as offering the potential to support interoperability across multiple-related applications and hence, drive manufacturing competitiveness in the digital manufacturing age. However, progress in support of manufacturing enterprise interoperability has tended to be limited to fairly narrow domains of applicability. This paper presents a progression of research and understanding, culminating in the work undertaken in the recent EU FLEXINET project, to develop a comprehensive manufacturing reference ontology that can (a) support the clarification of understanding across domains, (b) support the ability to flexibly share information across interacting software systems and (c) provide the ability to readily configure company knowledge bases to support interoperable manufacturing systems.

A multi-objective genetic algorithm based approach for location of grain silos in Paraná State of Brazil

Abstract The production of soybean and corn has increased steadily in Brazil, with the Parana State being the second largest producer of these grains. The increased production has now necessitated the storing facility also to be increased. Accordingly, partitioning the storage facility is a proposal to aggregate the municipalities of Parana into regions for effective transportation of the grains. Motivated by the requirement, the present work aims to organize the storage regions by aggregating the municipalities as a multi-objective graph (territory) partitioning problem with the municipalities being the nodes and roads linking them as the edges of the graph. In order to find the effective number of new silos to be constructed and their region-wise locations, maximization of the homogeneity of storage deficit and minimization of the inter-region product transportation cost from production sources to storage points are considered as two objective functions for the problem. A multi-objective genetic algorithm based results, presented here, should have a strong impact on the grain storage system management in Parana. Moreover, the proposed methodology might act as a useful grain storage management decision aiding tool in other territories.

The Application of an Integrated Product Development Process to the Design of Medical Equipment

With the research presented in this chapter we aim to investigate the importance of the concurrent engineering (CE) philosophy in the engineering-medical multidisciplinary environment for integrated product development process (IPDP) of medical equipment. We address the requirements of a health professional user as well as patient’s needs. We have identified and contextualized the medical equipment lifecycle, the importance of CE in the IPDP of medical equipment and present propositions for the insertion of software tools that support product development phases. A discussion is included on the use of CE and IPDP oriented towards medical equipment conception and development, perspectives of engineering modular development and interface between Health and Engineering information areas for increasing technical, clinical and economic quality.

Development Process of a Method, Material and Evaluation for Professional Qualification of Employees with Disabilities

This paper presents a case study regarding the professional qualification training for a group of disabled employees newly hired by a company that manufactures automotive parts. These employees receive exclusive training to work on the companys plant floor. This research was limited to PCP (Planning and Production Control) classes, where was used the courseware, teaching methodology and student-employee assessment outlined in the structure of Product Development Process oriented for Assistive Technology. The main challenge was planning the training for a group of students that present physical, mental, visual or hearing disabilities. The research objective is to present the research conducted in the class and the possibility of development of teaching methods and materials that reach the cognition level of students with disabilities in the PCP subject, making them aware of the necessity of teamwork and consequently enabling them to perform their function as well as raise awareness for searching improvements in the work environment and alternatives communication with their coworkers. At the end, it is discussed the results presenting the strengths and difficulties found during the research in the professional qualification training classes.

Conceptual Reasoning Model for Supporting Strategic Planning of Dental Implant Surgical Process

The technological evolution over the last decades brought the necessity of integration between different areas of knowledge; an example of this is the integration between the Odontology and Engineering in order to find new solutions to improve the surgical process of dental implants. This work proposes a conceptual reasoning model for supporting strategic planning of dental implant which offers support to the dentist through a three-dimensional geometric modeling of the dental arch (bone, nerves, existing teeth) allowing the realization in advance of the strategic planning of the surgical process. In this geometric modeling the reasoning system interacts with the dentist presenting the bones density, nerve location, among others features, becoming, in this way, a tool that will assist the dentist in the decision-making process. The proposed model creates an auxiliary mask that will work as a guide for locating and positioning the implants making the procedure quicker and less painful. The article’s main contributions are: i) conception and development of a computational reasoning tool that supports the process of dental implantation; ii) the interactivity in the development of surgical planning through a three-dimensional geometric model of the dental arch; iii) the reduction of surgical time and the patient’s recovery time.

Estrutura de informação como suporte em múltiplas vistas do produto num projeto orientado para a manufatura

Actually the activities of overall design must be well orchestrated and integrated which has led to the evolution of the philosophy of Concurrent Engineering where the decisions about different aspects related to the products life cycle, must be considered simultaneously. However, when the full breadth of design for manufacture is considered there are many aspects that must be addressed. This leads to the need for information systems to be able to support multiple views of a product, where each view provides the appropriate representation to support at least one manufacturing perspective. This research has investigated the potential of product model based systems to support multiple viewpoints in Design for Manufacture. The research has focused on the design for manufacture of plastic injection moulded products and has explored the particular viewpoints of mouldability, mould design and mould manufacturing. The approach taken has been to explore particular information structures to support each Design for Manufacture application. An experimental Product Model has been implemented using an object-oriented database.