The designe method and strategy for the sustainable society are preposed from the view points of optimization of safety management and minimization of environmental pollution as well as social cost. The optimization of safety ad risk managerial design for extraordinarily gigantic production facilities will protect human being from hazards with less costs. The enviromental protection and minimization of social cost are achieved through the accounting of the processing cost for the life cycle of products, which is proposed by modification of the global productivity proposed by Dr. Yoshikawa.

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Today, numerical simulations are most commonly carried out by the designers to check whether the components satisfy the design requirements or not. In current design iteration scheme, in order to obtain a response surface, numbers of simulation are required. Furthermore, each modification of the geometry requires a new mesh generation. Using variational approach, described in this paper, the simulation results become explicit function in terms of the design variables. The approach allows an easy implementation of optimization simulation within the standard design process.

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Various techniques are proposed in order to make the optimal structures according to the design objects. GA is one of the optimization techniques imitating the mechanism of life evolution. However, on the GA, it is difficult to obtain the optimal solution for the limit of coding on the large-scale problems. Then, the method combining GA with L-system, that is a form generating mechanism of a cell, is proposed. It is an evolutionary technique to obtain the optimal solutions according to the design objects and called as the evolutionary L-system (ELS). In this research, the optimum truss layouts problems are analyzed by using ELS.

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This paper presents a numerical solution technique for topology and shape optimization including shearing deformation in plane. This technique is composed of the following three : (1) an efficient pseudo- linearization method instead of incremental calculation for the shearing deformation, (2) an asteroid type of structuring element for executing effectively the (1), and (3) an accurate layout of void elements for producing the structure shapes with minimum weight and high stiffness. The validity of the technique is confirmed from the optimum topological shapes of two-dimensional finite element models.

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We deal with a recursive optimal design approach, that is, an application of self-similarity to structural optimization. It is based on a recursive formulation of mechanical behavior of structural system. We have dealt with optimal designs of two dimensional truss structure so far; the initial structure to be optimized is prepared as an assemblage of a number of so-called primitive truss structures. In the present study, we discuss a generalization of this recursive structural optimization by developing a different type of primitive structural component. A triangular finite element based primitive component is newly developed. Example optimal designs based on the finite element based primitive components are conducted and the obtained results are examined.

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Recently, the design problems for machine products such as machine tools tend to have a large number of evaluative characteristics, and are almost always multi-objective. In such cases, as the optimization problems are composed of a great variety of interdependent characteristics, optimization processes often fall into unsatisfactory local optima. In order to overcome this problem, this paper proposes a gradual optimization method based first on decomposition and the hierarchical ordering of characteristics, and then focusing on the interrelationships among the ordered design characteristics. This method begins by carefully examining the characteristics and decomposing each one into simpler sub-characteristics. Next, based on an analysis of the interrelationships among all characteristics, all characteristics are ordered hierarchically and grouped into a number of basic optimal units (BOU). Then, from the lowest level of the hierarchy, each BOU is optimized and Pareto optimum solutions are formed. BOUs at successively higher levels of the hierarchy are optimized using the Pareto optimum solution from the level immediately below. By sequentially optimizing the BOUs from the lowest level, Pareto optimum solutions of the objective functions are eventually formed. Finally, this method is verified by applying it to the design problem for a simple machine product.

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It is difficult that assemble a minute machine using still minuter parts. If assemble it, space and friction between parts cannot disregard in the micro world. However, such a problem is solvable if the objective function is realized by one continuum. The continuum having such a specific function is called "Functional Continuum". For the Functional Continuum, it is needed to restrict the transfer direction and to amplification or attenuation against mechanical action. In this study, a technique using a slit to create such Functional Continuum is proposed and its mechanical property is evaluated by FEM Analysis and experiment. It is presented that a bending rigidity changes before and after a slit contacts, when a slit is put into cantilever beam.

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SA/ANN (Simulated Annealing with Advanced Adaptive Neighborhood) is a SA with and adaptive neighborhood range for maintaining an optimum accept ratio, and it shows very good performance for continuous optimization problems. This paper deals with the combination of this adaptive mechanism and TPSA (Temperature Parallel Simulated Annealing). The former automatically determines the appropriate neighborhood range and the latter provides the appropriate cooling schedule automatically. The proposed approach, TPSA/AAN, shows a good performance in solving a typical test problem.

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This paper suggests a new engineering design idea by utilizing the optimality of the branch system in biology. From the viewpoint of engineering, the growth mechanisms of branch systems in biology are studied, and computer simulations by algorithm based on the design principle to obtain minimum average density are generated. By obeying the growth rules of branch system in biology, the growth of branches is depending on the local density, which is varied by local flow through the branch. Local flow can be decided by Poiseuille's law. Radii of branches obey Murray's law. The finite element model is established with Voxelcon 4.0,and the optimality of simulated branch system is validated by the finite element result of heat transfer problem.

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Linear sensitivity analysis is widely used to multi-criteria design optimization. But it happens that it takes time too much to optimize a multi-criteria design problem in the case that the dependency between design parameters exists. In this study, introducing second order design sensitivities, design system including effect of dependency between two design parameters is developed. By several results of numerical experiments by this design system, it is confirmed that this design system is effective to optimize a multi-criteria design problem.

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Upgrade design is one of the usefull approaches to realize inverse manufacturing because upgrade design can extend product lives and reduce consumption volume of resources and energy usage. However, difficulty of upgrade design resides within prediction of future trend such as technological trends and market trends. This papar propose a design method for upgradable products, and prototype design support tool which can be adapted changes of user requirement and market trend. Using design example of vacuume cleaner, this papar demonstrates that this support tools is effective for designing upgradable products.

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Inverse manufacturing is one of the new manufacturing paradigms to solve environmental issues. Its basic concept is to reduce the production and consumption volume of the products, while meeting the consumer's requirements and keeping the profits of companies. To realize inverse manufacturing, product life cycle design is indispensable. On the other hand, developing upgradable products is important to realize inverse manufacturing because these products have longer life, encourage reuse of components, and moreover, create new business chances at lower stages of product life cycles. In this paper, we propose an idea to control life of products to realize longer life of products and reuse of components efficiently. To control product life, we show the method for estimating upgrade design using the life cycle simulation (LCS) system and describe the new system architecture which supports product life cycle design based on the idea of product life control.

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In order to reduce environmental loads by realizing inverse manufacturing, it is a promising approach to execute inverse processes of products in developing countries where labor cost and environmental loads in recycling and remanufacturing are lower than Japan. This is because recycling and remanufacturing process are labor-intensive process and more than a half of total cost of inverse process is labor cost. However, shifting inverse processes abroad is criticized as export of disposals and, moreover, such a system is not objectively evaluated from the environmental point of view because of lack of practical data. This paper discusses advantages and disadvantages of several types of international closed-loop systems through some example.

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Environmental problems should be tackled immediately as our own problems rather than global issues. The problems mix up "economy", " society", and "environment" in a complex way. However, if a consumer who should take them in is disregarded, it is difficult to expect his/her motivated actions. Based on this understanding, conduct codes to realize an environmental conscious society embedded in each artifact must be proposed. In this research, we analyze customer's subjective determinant in flea market, and will discuss an approach for realizing reuse of the product and the conduct codes.

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Fabrication conditions of natural fiber reinforced biodegradable composite (green composite) were investigated. Bamboo for reinforcement and biodegradable polymer from cornstarch were chosen. Various fabrication conditions were tested by tensile test and damping test. The experimental results showed that, the suitable conditions are, fiber weight fraction of 60% and fabrication temperature of 145℃ and pressure of 10MPa. The tensile strength of long fiber reinforced composite reaches to 100MPa, and chopped fiber reinforced ones showes good vibration damping feature.

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In this paper, we will develop prediction system of accident of the system by using radius basis function network (RBFN). In monitering the machine, although it is connected on line, it is sometimes difficult to store or transfer all data that it corrects. In stochastic way of doing diagnosis, they need continuous data to find mean value and standard deviation. Beside that it has no meaning when data has two steady states. However, in our system, we can express situation of steady states even if they have more than two steady states. By using actucal data, we will show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

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We propose a scheme to evaluate design parameters based on a user's personal preferences. The scheme works through an interaction between the user and a computer system. The objective of the scheme is to help a layman set design parameters by simple evaluation of displayed samples. An important feature of this method is that the design attributes which a user pays more attention estimated with Rough Sets Theory and are reflected while refining the search. New design candidates are generated by the user's evaluation of design samples generated at random. While values of already evaluated attributes are fixed in the refined samples, the unevaluated ones are generated at random. This interaction continues until the samples converge to a satisfactory design. Thus, a personal and subjective feature is evaluated by this efficient search process. This method is applied to camera work and suitable lighting for 3D production model and a comparison with Interactive GA will be demonstrated by an operational experiment.

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Nowadays, the marketplace is crowded with a plethora of products, many of which have an almost identical purpose. Furthermore, most products have a high level of engineering excellence and functional differences between them have become practically insignificant. Under this competitive situation, a crucial issue for designers attempting to create products is to meet specific needs and satisfy the feelings of consumers. Therefore, customer preferences should be included when making design decisions. Generally, customer preference criteria are dependent upon a number of interrelated factors, are vague and incorporate individual differences. The environments and circumstances in which customers live and use the products of their choice play a principle role in creating the above dependencies and individual differences concerning pre-conscious desires and preferences for particular relationships of color, shape, and other aesthetic factors. In order to facilitate design decision-making in this type of arena, this study proposes a method for evaluating images and codifying human impressions of products by using not only pairs of adjectives as criteria, but also environmental factors based on the Semantic Differential Method, and Principal Component Analysis.

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Equi-Density Surface like Metaballs is good for representing globally smooth surface. But it's difficult to manipulate the surface locally, and to locate primitives based on skeletons to generate it correctly. So, we propose a new method to generate Equi-Density Surface with multiple skeletons using a blending function. By this, required surfaces are generated including the skeletons partly. And the surface patches are blended smoothly on the edges. These generated surfaces can be set in the previously created Equi-Density Shapes as on primitive.

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This paper proposes a computerized method of industrial design aid by suggesting combinations of shape-and color-characteristics different from existing designs as hints for new design. First, feature indices to represent and quantify shape-and color-characteristics of industrial designs are mathematically defined. Then, the feature indices are calculated for an existing industrial design case obtained as 3-D CAD data or 3-D shape scanning data of real product. The calculated feature indices represent the design case in a feature index space. By collecting such feature index vectors for existing design cases and finding new points in the space which are as far from any of the existing vectors as possible, new combinations of shape-and color-characteristics different from existing designs should be obtained. Also, computational method of generating and visualizing 3-D shape examples that have specified shape-and color feature indices is introduced. The proposed method is implemented as a program using simulated annealing and applied to designs of "card stands".

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One of common topics in the world of mechanical design is the optimization of design. Various methods have been suggested for finding optimum design, for instance, linear programming method, genetic algorithm, quantitative method and etc. However, there remain a huge number of ordinary mechanical designs that are not undergoing optimization processes. This is mainly due to the facts that the outcome of the design does not cause any critical problem, optimization is not considered or not required, optimization of design is nearly impossible, and the mixtures of the above. As a result, the outcome of the above-mentioned designs usually depends on the designer's instinct decision, where technical analysis is not performed. As human brain tends to have complexities when making decision, decision based on instinct or past experience may not produce an optimum design. In order to solve the above problem, this paper proposes a mechanical design supporting system, which utilizes Analytic hierarchy Process (AHP) to analyze designer's intention and later express it in numerical form. Based on the numeric values, and optimum design structure can later be formulated.

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Recent rapid market change requires production systems to be stood up and modified very rapidly. In this study, a redesigning method is proposed which collects and reuses experts' knowledge and intention explicitly and modifies a production system systematically and effectively based on them. This redesigning method consists of the following three steps; 1. representing designers' intention in the form of QFD (Quality Function Deployment) table, 2. deciding effective redesigning points by evaluating production cost, intended production quality and resulting production quality, and 3. supporting a designer to search for ideas of improvements by adopting a checklist. A case study illustrates advantages of the proposed method.

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Research and development of a CAD/CAM system for free-form surfaces by using NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline) is carried out. First, the architecture of the system, theoretical basis of NURBS, format of NURBS-NC (Numerical Control) machining program, compensation of cutting path and 3D-NC simulation method are described. Then, CAD and CAM of a gas turbine blade is performed by the developed system and the results discussed.

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This paper proposes a method of fabricating 3-D object in color based on stereolithography. By combining inkjet printing process to stereolithography, color patterns can be drawn onto the resin layer surface. In conventional stereolithography, however, layer surface is flat and the drawn patterns are not visible in the viewing direction parallel to layer surface. On the other hand, refrigerative stereolithography, which the authors has proposed and been investigating, uses photopolymer resin in gel state, and the gel layer surface can be made rugged and non-flat. By drawing color patterns onto the rugged and non-flat layer surface, we can achieve improved visibility of the pattern in various view directions. In this paper, the basic idea is examined in two approaches to generate rugged surface : one is to scratch the gel surface by a notched-coater and the other is to punch the gel surface by a vibrating needle.

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Sheet metal parts are widely used as main constructional elements of industrial products such as any household electric appliances and electronic equipments. Since a process planning of sheet metal part is so complicated, that computer aided engineering for sheet metal part has been investigated. In this paper, we focus on the shape of bending punch which is determined according to the conditions of interference. The proposing method can be used for the determination of a suitable punch and check of punch by using pattern recognition. We applied this method to actual sheet metal bending process of sheet metal parts in a shop floor of a sheet metal manufacturing industry as a case study, and validity of this method was confirmed.

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This paper describes a way to share 3D-CAD models by a visualization tool that uses mainly geometoric attribute of models. Previously each model's attributes are extracted and the tool plots 3D-CAD models on a coordinate plane based on the attributes with a thumbnail image that shows model's appearance. By doing so, similar models are plotted in short distance each other. Users can alter the coordinate plotting attributes to see from different viewpoints. Also users can zoom in favorite rectangle on the plane that is given by mouse device to search what users want. These functions enable users to understand retrieved 3D-CAD intuitively and to search models analytically. These features promote reusing models favorably compared to searching by part number.

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This paper proposes a method of defining similarity between sketches based on physical quantity and geometry. The purpose of this study is to enable case-based design aid using this similarity : designers can retrieve and consult the relevant sketches to their current design problem, or extract sharable design knowledge by classifying accumulated sketches, from the viewpoints of behavior and structure. First, we introduce methods of describing and recording design concept sketches by physical quantities and geometries. Then, we introduce a similarity definition of sketches consisting of drafting elements. Similarity between pair of drafting elements is defined by combining individual similarity for each attribute, and then similarity between sketches is defined based on the drafting element similarity. We implemented the proposed method as a computer program written in Common Lisp, and examine its efficacy and possibility by applying the idea to some simple examples.

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Powerful methods for exploration and search from collections of documents are needed to manage the ever-increasing flood of digital information. In this paper, we propose an application of Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) to Information Retrieval. At first, words in "KOUJIEN" are encoded based on their meaning, and then create Word SOM. Documents are encoded using Word SOM, and then create Documents SOM. As a result of that, similar documents lie near each other on the map. We expect that not only the most required document but also relative documents can be found.

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In design of products especially for public use such as automobile, and PC, the requirements become widely spread. Thus, we should have to estimate products by using multi-objective optimization, and it should be estimated in scalar value. In such cases, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) works very well. In this study, we analyze the growth of frontier of products and try to estimate the future requirements for the product design. In order to demonstrate the proposed method, we apply it to the growth of Japanese Car for five years. From those result, we show the growth of the frontier for specific class of cars, and also we show the shifts of requirements by shifts of frontier for other specific class of cars.

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Because of the increasing number of plastic surgery in Japan, hard tissue implants, especially, custom-made one, are required by the market. However, two issues have to be considered. Appropriate design for custom-made production needs preliminary operation, which is not easily accepted by the patients. Furthermore, porous ceramics are regarded as suitable material for hard tissue implants which grow into the tissue to become compatible, but their fragile features are not suitable for mechanical processing. We are proposing a new solution to this problem, and it enables us to mechanical processing on porous ceramics. The study focuses on a virtual manufacturing approach to hard tissue implants made of porous ceramics. The paper presents the overview of the idea behind the approach and shows some of the key technologies.

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In this paper, discussion about creativity is introduced. The discussion was made between Shuichi Fukuda and Prof. Rolf Faste, Stanford University, who stayed from April 1 to June 30,2002 as visiting professor, in order to find out how we can be creative in our product development. Prof. Faste proposed the egg model where the yellow represents our majority and the white represents those beyond 3 sigma region. Geniuses belong to the white region. He insists those people in the white area are deeply associated with creativity. He further insists that there are two kinds of creativity : invention and innovation. The former corresponds to generating the core yellow in the white region while the latter corresponds to moving the whole egg from one place to another. Both argued the difference of creativity between Japanese and Westerners and although Westerners seem to be much interested in forms, Japanese are more interested in styles. This fact is illustrated by the difference between Western soup and Japanese miso soup. In the Western world, they invent totally different soup. For example, clam chowder and consomme soup are extremely different. But in Japan miso soup is fundamentally the same, although its ingredients are very extensively diversified.

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This paper points out that the present network technology falls short for true communication for teamworking. The present one focuses on how accurately and how fast the idea of a speaker will be transmitted to the other side, i.e. a listener. But with the increasing diversity and globalization, the need to listen to what the other party is thinking of is growing rapidly because up to now, we may have worked together as a team but that level has been at a tactical or operational one. But diversification and globalization calls for goal identification and its sharing among the team members so that more strategical approach is needed. Therefore, we have to develop such a communication technology where one can understand the other party's idea or image so that we can build up a truly effective team.

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An approach towards standardization of the general rules for synthesis and design of man machine interfaces that include dynamic adaptive behavior is presented. The link between the personality type (Myers-Briggs or Kersey Temperament sorter) and the personal preferences of the users (Kansei) for the purpose of building Graphical User Interface (GUI) was investigated. The rules for a personalized emotional GUI based on the subjective preferences of the users were defined. The results were tested on a modified TETRIS game that displayed background characters capable of emotional response. When the system responded to user in a manner that is customized to his or her preferences, the reaction time was smaller and the information transfer was faster. Usability testing methods were used and it was shown that development of pleasant cartoon face GUI based on the users inborn personality tendencies was feasible.

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Voice change system considering easiness in listening is developed. Easiness in listening differs from person to person so that we developed a voice changing system that would change a voice so that a listener can listen easily in his or her way. Such a system would facilitate the understanding on the part of a listener. The feature of this system is that we used IGA for a user to interactively customize the voice to his or her easy listening.

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The various information is treated in design processes by many designers. In the design of complicated machinary, designers often treat information and make various decision for the design. Recent years, computational power has been increasing and designers could discuss design problems from several points of view. Optimization methods offer reasonable design canditates from the early stage of design. However, in the discussion from several points of view, the unification of the distributed models is useful and it is difficult to make decision to settle design canditates. In the unification of the models, the overlap of the information often occures. In this study, we will develop the database that treats the overlap of the information and apply the developed system for the collaborative design. Through simple numerical examination, we will confirm the effectiveness of the developed system.

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In this paper, the method for establishing efficient and smooth communication system among designers is proposed through systematizing functions expansion on mechanical design. Module design is the main stream on current mechanical design. Modules are classified by functions. First, the process of function expansion is systematized by using 3 factors, object, action, and condition. Then the mechanism for showing relations to function unites is established. Second, the system for efficient and smooth communication among designers is proposed by developing designers support system using above-mentioned mechanism.

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The framework of a system that supports project management of a manufacturing industry is reported, through the processing of the information generated during the design and manufacturing activity. Paying attention to the relation between the product and activity in a project and the actual result, an information model is proposed explicitly that describes the mutual relationship between the process information and the product information. This model is available in case of some changes occured on the product information or on the process information to correct the related information. And a prototype of the management environment that supports suitable correction is implemented based on this model.

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In the design and manufacturing industry, Small and Medium Industry (SMI), which is lacking of good design and manufacturing environment, facilities and so on when compare with large scale industry, has its productivity directly links to the its engineer/technician's skills. In reality, more than half of the SMI implement On the Job Training (OJT) within a limited period of time as their training program. For example, in the design of custom casting product, a designer who is lack of casting knowledge may not be able to produce a good design. In order to obtain a good design, it is necessary to equip the designer with a support system related to casting process or so called, knowledge transfer system. Thus, enabling continuous design and manufacturing of highly added value product, which is often required. This paper describes a relatively effective knowledge transfer system, which utilizes Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language technology to convey the knowledge of design process, casting plan, material characteristic (tacit and explicit knowledge) when designing custom casting product.

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GiD is a universal, adaptive and user-friendly graphical user interface for geometrical modelling, data input and visualisation of results for all types of numerical simulation programs. GiD is ideal to be used by universities, research center, enterprises and individuals working from home for development and applications of numerical simulation programs.

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We develop the CLAY DIVIDER, the CLAY and the CLAY OPERA. The CLAY DIVIDER is There Dimension Shell Element Auto Mesh Generator. A feature is No-Healing of CAD using "Virtual Zone". The CLAY MESH is Three Dimension Solid Element Auto Mesh Generator. A feature is Voxel Mesh Generator mixed tetra, penta and hexa element for possible structure analysis. The CLAY OPERA is the structure optimization program using Basis Vector Method. The Basis Vector Model is created using a morphing technique on CLAY OPERA. These papers report a summary of The CLAY Series using some example of CAD Shape.

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In this paper, the finite element formulation and efficient numerical method to solve the combined dynamic behavior of a high-speed train and a newly developed floating ladder track are given. A mechanical model to describe the interaction between wheel and rail is given. Various simulations of a high-speed vehicle running at 350km/h on the ladder track with local rail irregularities defined are conducted to study the impact behavior between the vehicle and the track.

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