Siti Azfanizam Ahmad

TRIZ-inspired Asymmetrical Search Neighborhood in the Bees Algorithm

The Bees Algorithm, a heuristic optimization procedure that mimics bees foraging behavior, is becoming more popular among swarm intelligence researchers. The algorithm involves neighborhood and global search and is able to find promising solutions to complex multimodal optimization problems. The purpose of neighborhood search is to intensify the search effort around promising solutions, while global search is to enable avoidance of local optima. Normally, a symmetrical search neighborhood is employed in the Bees Algorithm. As opposed to this practice, a TRIZ-inspired asymmetrical search neighborhood was tried in this work to explore the significance of neighborhood symmetry. The algorithm with an asymmetrical search neighborhood was tested on an engineering design problem. The analysis verified that under certain measurements of asymmetry, the proposed algorithm produced a similar performance as that of the Bees Algorithm.

Robotic motion planning in unknown dynamic environments: Existing approaches and challenges

Path planning with obstacles avoidance in dynamic environments is a crucial issue in robotics. Numerous approaches have been suggested for the navigation of mobile robots with moving obstacles. In this paper, about 50 articles have been reviewed and briefly described to offer an outline of the research progress in motion planning of mobile robot approaches in dynamic environments for the last five years. The benefits and drawbacks of each article are also explained. These papers are classified based on their issues into ten groups which are: stability, efficiency, smooth path, run time, path length, accuracy, safety, future prediction (uncertainties), control, and less computation cost. Finally, some scope and challenging topics are presented based on the papers mentioned.

A mechanical design of power generator using door openings for household use

Electricity is one of the most important human resources in the life of todays human being. It keeps the lights on, air conditioners and fans running throughout the hot weather and connecting people through smart phones. These household appliances will be causing higher dependency on electricity among consumers. The electricity requirements are hiking at alarming rate where the fossil fuels and other conventional resources that are being used for generation of electrical energy may no longer be sufficient to keep pace with increasing demand of the electrical energy of the world. This power generation depends on fossil fuel which also causes pollution and changes to the global climate. Thus, the main objective of this study is to propose a mechanical design of power generator which the input is from the movement of door openings. The power generator is designed and fabricated through various manufacturing processes and it consists of bevel gears, shafts and wheels. The power generator is then attached to a moving door and connected to a voltmeter. Result shows that the power generator is able to generate approximately of 12V and this is sufficient to charge a smart phone. To conclude, the designed power generator is not only environmental friendly but also has potential to be used by households because of its simple input requirement and small in size.

An Engineering Design Support Tool Based on TRIZ

TRIZ contradiction matrix was built after years of study on patent information. Designers using TRIZ contradiction matrix have to identify the improving and worsening features of their design problems and determine the inventive principles to solve their design problems. It is common to identify multiple improving and worsening features and with some features more important than the others. With the updated 2003 and 2010 TRIZ contradiction matrix introduced, more features have been added and hence, there is a need for a software tool based on these TRIZ matrices. This paper presents an engineering design support tool based on TRIZ that allows considerations for multiple improving and worsening features and allows designers to prioritise these features using weights to solve their design problems as well as the option to choose the version of TRIZ they prefer.

Design and Analysis of Computer Experiments Using Polynomial Regression and Latin Hypercube Sampling in Optimal Design of PID Controller

Computational complexity and time-consuming iteration of simulation for tuning of Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller is a common drawback in many types of existing methods. This paper aims to propose a new method for achieving an optimal design for PID gains parameters with the least number of simulation runs. To achieve this purpose, we combine polynomial regression and Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) in order to Design and Analyze of Computer Experiments (DACE). In this method, the LHS is performed three times to design the associated sample points for different usage that includes training sample points to fit polynomial regression as a common surrogate model; validating sample points to scale standardized residuals; grid search sample points for investigating optimal point over whole design space. To show the flexibility and applicability of the proposed method, we serve a numerical case in the tuning of PID controller for linear speed control of Direct Current (DC) motor. Four different polynomial regression fit input/output (I/O) data over separately four model’s performances that includes Integral-Square-Error (ISE), Integral-Absolute-error (IAE), Integral-Time-Square-Error (ITSE), and Integral-Time-Absolute-Error (ITAE). Comparison of the result with two existing approaches such as traditional Zeigler-Nichols method and Taguchi-Gray Relational Analysis (Taguchi-GRA) confirms the reliability and superiority of the proposed method.

Using TRIZ to Generate Ideas to Solve the Problem of the Shortage of ICT Workers

With the ever competitive global market swamped with more choices of high-tech gadgets from smartphones to head-mounted display eyewear like “Google Glass”, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is one of the key factors to engineering and technological advancement and the bridge to the future. In view of such significant importance, the government of Malaysia has been embarking on national policies to prioritise the education and the programmes on ICT to train and produce highly skilled ICT workers to achieve the nation’s ambition to become a developed country. Despite the government efforts, studies have shown that Malaysia is still currently facing shortage of skilled ICT workers. In view of this shortage of skilled ICT worker problem, a systematic engineering problem solving theory known as TRIZ is applied to generate ideas and potential solutions to solve this problem in this research.