This paper describes the 3D automated preoperative planning system for Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA). We have reported the automated planning procedure of anatomical femoral component which finds the solution using one-by-one search. The method was formulated based on expertise of an experienced surgeon. As a problem of this system, one-by-one search could not guarantee the optimality. And also, this system has to narrow down the search range, because of limit of the computer resources. In this paper, we adopt the 'Powell method' for finding the solution which can guarantee the local optimality. And we widen the search range by positioning the starting point of finding in the step of 3.0[mm] 3.0[deg.]. We applied this system to 7 cases. This system guarantee the optimality along X and Y axes. However there is some ambiguity of optimality along the Z axis. Therefore we need to tune up the conformity function. Therefore we need to tune up the conformity function.

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Injection is the most commonly performed invasive procedure in the hospital. However, the introduction of a needle into a vein in the injection still correlates closely with clinical skills and experiences of clinical workers without relation to advances in medical technology. It is often difficult to find the vein and to insert the needle into the blood vessel, especially if the patient is an infant whose pannicule is thick and blood vessel is thin compared with adults. Multiple failed attempts at needle insertion can increase patient discomfort with traumas. Therefore, this paper describes the results of preliminary experiments to develop an assistive device that enables medical staff to achieve an accurate needle puncture into a vein even if the blood vessel is difficult to identify.

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The structural profile under the working load is critical in certain cases where structural shape is directly related to the structural function. The deformed profile is a primal concern, for instance, for the frame structures of precision instruments, and the backstructure of reflectors. Such requirement appears not only at the design stage of the structures but also at the maintenance and/or adjustment stages under the variation of working load, the degeneration of structural properties and so on. In this study, the shape optimization problem of continuum structure is studied for the prescribed deformation profile under the working load. The shape index measures the difference between the target profile given a priori and the deformed structural profile of the designated surface of the continuum body. The shape optimization problem is then formulated as the minimization of the shape index under the constraints of the trimming operation that allows only the local volume reduction at every point of the surfaces of continuum body from current profile. The secondary deformation due to such trimming operation is taken into the evaluation of the subsequent determination of trimming volume. The proposed trimming process has been applied for the planning of corneal refractive surgery and it has been confirmed that the specified structural profile has been realized only by the trimming operation through the proposed process effectively.

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We propose a new type of mock-up consisting of a transparent solid object, fabricated by stereolithography, with a small video camera embedded inside. By processing the video image of the object surface taken from the inside in real time, operation data of the mock-up (e.g., when interfaces such as buttons and dials are operated by the users) and usage (e.g., which hand and fingers are used to operate the buttons and dials of the mock-up) data can be obtained. Consequently, a simple stereolithography model without sensors or circuits can be a functional mock-up. By analyzing these automatically obtained usage data, operation data and the result of functional simulation, some usability data will be obtained or extracted. Designers can use such data to improve the usability of the product that the mock-up imitates. The feasibility and validity of the concept is confirmed and reported on the basis of two experiments.

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We already analyzed dynamically facial color under emotional change of anger based on the simultaneous measurement of facial color and facial skin temperature. In this paper, on the basis of the analysis, we synthesize eleven enhanced facial color images by using an average facial image of 68 females that masked out the eyes and mouth, and evaluate the effectiveness of these images through sensory evaluation by paired comparison. Next, we synthesize the enhanced facial color images by using the average facial image that masked out only the eyes, and evaluate harmony of lip color and facial color after enhanced facial color synthesis for affect display of facial color through the sensory evaluation. Finally, we synthesize facial expression with enhanced facial color by using the average facial image, and evaluate the effectiveness for affect display of the image through sensory evaluation of seven-point bipolar rating.

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These days, the number of users of video communication and TV-phone has been getting increased, in particular, video communication by using mobile phone and mobile PC, because of the progress of wireless LAN and so on. However, using video communication system on mobile machine, the user's facial color may be changed every moment in case of not-constant light condition. Moreover, the video communication user would like to use pleasant facial color on his/her own facial image. In this paper, the color adjusting system that can adjust and keep agreeable facial color under any light condition is proposed. The proposed system allows the users to adjust the facial color by using the HSV adjusting slider on the Windows. After adjusting facial color, the system keeps the users agreeable facial color's HSV and it adjusts the facial color every moment while the user communicate by using video communication system. Some characteristics of the present system are described and the effectiveness of them is also demonstrated by the questionnaires analysis.

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3D-drawing technique is a key technique in various fields such as not only engineering design but also entertainment industry. However, most of traditional systems are recommended for virtual space separated from real space where users exist, so drawing techniques in the real world and display techniques for 3D drawing expression aren't discussed sufficiently. If it is possible that a drawing space is expanded from desktop PC to real world in order to draw using whole bodily action, range of expression might be extensible further and it lead to the creation of a new idea. So as to test the possibility of 3D drawing in real world, we developed the portable 3D-drawing system. In addition, we devised some display techniques for 3D-drawing expression, and considered the effect of each technique.

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Until now, the analysis method and the optimization method, which were used in design, were evolving independently. However, when designed combining them, coexistence of time and precision was difficult. Then, we have developed the high-speed first order design method. In this paper, we reconsidered optimization method for our design system. We applied agent-oriented optimization method for "heat conduction problem among devices." In a case study, we achieved more than 10% improvement in pareto curve. We also achieved about 90% shorter design time than former result of this study.

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This paper proposes a simplified deformation analysis methodology for the three-dimensional body in the first order analysis (FOA). A simplified finite element is developed for the tension and compression, and bending deformation as well as shear deformation of the body by extending concept of beam element. The simplified finite element analysis via developed element can estimate approximate deformations of complicate 3D-body, and the results of the analysis are useful for considering the load transmitting path of the structure and for designing the better structure by changing the stiffness of structural components. This report shows differences and improvement between previous it in this one. In the previous report, a shear matrix is calculated by a equation of strain energy measured displacement, in this report, is done by measured stress.

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As the method enabling to research simply the structure with the fine character at the initial design state, we proposed a new concept of CAE, First Order Analysis (FOA). Up to the present, we have developed the FOA tools based on beam elements with various cross-section properties, and applied to the stiffness analysis of the automotive structures. On the other hand, it is well known that the stiffness of the beam structure composed with thin shells declines as compared with simple beam theory because of elastic buckling of thin shells. On the basis of the effective width theory considering elastic buckling, the deflection analysis of the beam structure was carried out, and the result using the effective width theory was compared with that by non-linear finite element method. As a result, it was found to have sufficient accuracy as comparison with the result by linear finite element method.

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Product families are groups of related products, which are made of common product modules in order to provide a variety of products with lower cost and shorter lead-time. This paper presents the effect of architecting a product family that shares inter-changeable modules. Determining product architecture is one of the key activities of any industrial product development activity. In this paper, first we explain a relationship between modules and components for one product, and propose how to determine product architecture by making modules architecture common. And the effect of the module design is evaluated at the inventory cost, the product performance, and the procurement lead-time. The evaluation can help designers find see how to design product families such as module and component architecture. Efficiency of the proposed method and evaluation is illustrated by using a product module problem of switchgear as an example.

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During the mechanical product design process, design engineers must pay close attention to numerous aspects of machine products. When a design optimization is applied to such design problems, multiobjective optimization schemes allow these aspects to be simultaneously considered. Especially for large-scale mechanical products, obtaining the global optimum solution for this kind of problem can be problematic, since the number of mechanical characteristics to be taken into account becomes unwieldy and there are complex trade-off relations between the various characteristics. This paper proposes a design optimization method for large-scale optimization problems based on hierarchical decomposition of mechanical characteristics.

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Structural optimization techniques such as topology and shape optimizations have been successfully utilized in mechanical industries. it is, however, difficult to create practicable structure, which we can use for the design and development of mechanical products. This paper presents a new hierarchical optimization method, which is integrated based on topology optimization, shape optimization using traction method and a concept of topological derivatives. This method can create a practicable structure, which has simple topology and smooth surface. It is confirmed that the obtained optimal structure is estimated to be 10% lighter than the initial structure, and the proposed method can be useful for the design of practical structures.

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Topology optimization methods using discrete elements such as frame elements can provide useful insights into the underlying mechanics principles of products, however the majority of such optimizations are performed under deterministic conditions. In order to avoid performance reductions due to later-stage environmental changes, variations of several design parameters are considered during the topology optimization. The authors have proposed a reliability-based topology optimization method for frame structures to consider uncertainties of applied loads and nonstructural mass at the early conceptual design stage. In this paper, member cross-sectional property is added as random variables to consider the actual design situation/The effects that multiple criteria, namely stiffness and eigen-frequency, have upon system reliability are evaluated by regarding them as a series system, where mode reliabilities can be evaluated using first order reliability methods. Through numerical calculations, the effect of considering uncertainty of member cross-sectional property on the optimum topology is discussed.

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In this paper, we summarize history of approximate optimization methods, and we will make a comparison of 4 approximate method, combination of polynomial and RBFN that we have proposed, response surface method, Kriging method, and RBFN.

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In this paper, we will propose sparse algorithm for RBF approximation. RBF is good approximation for both local accuracy and global follow up. However, when the number of basis rises, it sometimes need too much time consuming to calculate its response. Especially, when we would like to optimize radius, it took too much time. When we use RBF for control problem, these quickness of response is strongly required. We will show the basic rule of sparse and show its effectivenss.

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In this paper, we will propose convolute RBF approximation method. As the nature of approximation, RBF also tend to follow response surface roughly. Therefore, it is not good for local accuracy. In this paper, we propose convolution of RBF, that approximate with large radius, next we will approximate its error by small radius. We convolute this procedure for several times and get better approximation.

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This paper proposes an intelligent start-up schedule optimization system for a thermal power plant. This system consists of a dynamic simulation, a neural network, and an interactive multi-objective programming technique. The features of this system are as follows. (1) The start-up schedule can be optimized based on multi-objective evaluation and (2) the optimal start-up schedule can be determined with a reasonable computing time and calculation accuracy through interaction between human beings and computers.

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In this paper, we will propose agent based PSO. Basically PSO has three parameters which determine its basic performance. If you give suitable settings, then it moves so nice to satisfy you. However, if you give them ugly, it sometimes converges to local optimum, or it never converge and scatter around global solutions. Many researchers try to adapt these parameters by looking at situation of convergence. However, they still remain in giving all individuals to have same settings. I think these difficulities in setting lie in artificial setting that ignore diversity of individuals. In this study, we allow to give different settings for each individual and allow them to aim different objective function for global search.

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In general, customers are one of elements in service system. Customers are sometimes involved in service production process. This paper aims at proposing a representation method for interactions between customer and service. First, "service encounter" and "service blueprint" in the field of service marketing are explained. Second, some problems in service blueprint are pointed out from the viewpoint of service engineering. Third, a new design process to describe service blueprint and service encounter is proposed.

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In service design, reusability of knowledge about service case greatly affects success and failure of design and quality of design solution, and efficiency of design. We have already introduced the methodology which supports deriving candidates of function deployment using Universal Abduction Studio (UAS) in view model. In this report, we introduce the methodology which supports deriving new service from the information of provider's resources using UAS to increase reusability of knowledge about service case in service design, and extend the knowledge representation scheme in function structure by including the information of parameter.

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We argue that abduction for integrating theories can be a basic principle to formalize creative design processes. Based on this principle, we have proposed Universal Abduction Studio, a design environment in which designers combine different theories to arrive at better design. In this new approach to computational support of conceptual design, the system should offer various types of abductive reasoning from which designers can select an interesting design method. This paper aims at proposing the method of handling terminology by general common ontology and managing in the multiple. We also discuss technologies to implement proposed method of managing terminology.

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This study deals with the management for gaming shops by considering about profit or loss from gaming and simulations. Although there are multi kinds of many games or these shops about gaming or simulations all over the world, in this study, we attempt to use variance of repetitions of gaming simulations based on each probabilistic phenomenon from view points of service and life cycle. In addition, we examine the characteristics of its maximum risk with gain by winner among players. Moreover, we can suggest the design method about loss or risk throughout gaming simulation.

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Reliability analysis is important to decrease potential of rework in mechanical design. It takes a large percentage of design work. Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is one of the most general reliability analysis techniques. In existing FMEA, failure modes are extracted according to parts list. But only main parts are treated usually. Because parts list is not perfect in early phase of design work. So, it is difficult to secure covering failure mode in early phase of design work. To solve this problem, we try to integrate the design intention model and FMEA. In the model, product function is decomposed into tree-structured sub functions and design knowledge is related to each function node. In the integrated model, failure modes are related to each function node too. This enables to secure covering failure mode. In addition we will improve efficiency of making a FMEA sheets.

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This paper proposes a maintenance activity model for manufacturing systems that considers not only routine maintenance activity but also functional maintenance including improvement/modification. Required maintenance types are categorized, and limitation of Activity Domain Integration Diagram (ADID) proposed by ISO18435 are discussed based on framework for life cycle maintenance management of manufacturing assets. Then, we proposed extension ADID model for maintenance activity model considering functional improvement/modification.

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In order to shorten design lead time, recent manufacturers usually employ diversion design by using a knowledge base CAD system. In diversion design, a CAD data should be constructed by an appropriate modeling procedure in order to respond to a future diversion. However, especially a novice CAD operator hardly thinks about a modeling procedure for diversion. We have been developing a modeling procedure document creation system, called C^3 (Cubic), which supports a CAD operator to understand the modeling procedure in a short time. By applying this system, we implemented "ONT (On the Network CAD Training) system" by which an operator can efficiently learn the modeling procedure online. The ONT system was experimentally operated for verification. As a result, the efficiency of diversion design has improved by approximately 3 times that of former technique.

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In design process, the designer has faced the problem of everyday various facilities appropriating. Subject of such problem is QCD (Quality Cost Delivery) of the product and something which relates to the reduction of environmental load. As for the primary factor of this problem occurrence, thought of the designer and there is a manner itself of judgment namely decision making. If it restates, it is problem of skill of the design. In prevention of recurrence of such problem simply not only quick fix measure, the root solution becomes necessary. The root solution, design environment, the person and organization, is coping method to the problem which relates to the management system of design such as procedure and design tool deeply. In this research, it stands in such point of view, it verifies the management function in designing, as a design manager it examines the way of the design management system which is based on this.

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We propose a knowledge management method using indexing based on physical quantity dimension space. All physical quantities appearing in the past, present and future design problems can be represented by seven-dimensional vectors based on seven fundamental units of SI. Our key idea is to use this seven-dimensional vector (quantity dimension vector) for indexing knowledge from the viewpoint of physical phenomena. We mathematically define similarity between two physical quantities based on quantity dimension vector. Then we classify design knowledge into three patterns and define index representing those pattern similarity and physical quantity similarity. We prepare some sample knowledge and use our method to estimate similarity between knowledge and to retrieve knowledge relevant to current design problem. As a result, we confirmed that our approach is feasible for design knowledge management.

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In the advent of current development in PDM (Product Data Management) System, the STEPlib (Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data Library) of ISO-10303 standard written in Gellish English has been conceived and it's archive of the volume is so immensely extensive in the view of Taxonomy for Product Data Model. Based on RDMS (Relational Database Management System such as Oracle) and XML (Extensible Markup Language) for Web interface, framework is kept as compatible as that of RDBMS and XML applications and the semantics among the terms like UID (Gellish Unique Identifier) are defined unambiguously in the STEPlib database. As of the hierarchy for the tables of data stored within the database, SQL (Structured Query Language) acts like a backyard storage, of which data format is linked and interfaced with XML web transactions. Taking into account of the inference in query process for this STEPlib with SQL or XML, user's perception for this Thesaurus framework is hard to comprehend in the middle of the navigation through the Taxonomy for Product Data Model. In this sense, Expert support is indispensable and should be implemented at the user interface for query operation.

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This paper discusses an ontology which exists behind a design methodology. Because a purpose of a design methodology is to have prescriptions that advocate how design should be done in particular circumstances, taxonomy of design and a pattern of design operation can be seen in a design methodology. This is what an ontology is. Therefore, a design methodology can be a basis of defining ontology for a knowledge management oriented design support system, although a design methodology is originally made for practical use without taking care of its ontology. This paper employs a QFD-based cost/worth analysis method as an example of design methodology, and defines its ontology. A knowledge management oriented design support system is implemented based on this ontology.

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Articulation plays a crucial role in externalization and combination in knowledge management processes. An ontology provides systematic definitions of fundamental concepts for knowledge modeling, and thus facilitates disambiguation of confusable concepts and then such articulation. This article discusses general relationships of artifact-related processes from the viewpoint of functionality. We investigate generalization and extension of our functional modeling framework based on Ontological Engineering. Focusing on roles played by physical entities in functioning processes, we discuss relationship among processes and propose integrated modeling framework in a goal-oriented manner. Then we categorize the processes using the relationships. In the proposed framework, some possible models of confusing concepts can be clearly represented.

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In order to survive competition in a market or to achieve the social role, the business organization has to continue improving the present business process to various changes which are environmental change of social economy or development of technology such as IT. While the organization has performed business process re-engineering for every section conventionally, the integrative management of the process in the whole organization is required at the present. This research aims at the development of a supporting tool planning processes of the whole business organization cooperatively. First, the business organization which focused on the relevance between each process is modeled. Next, the PDCA cycle for planning business process is described with the proposal of support for process planning and evaluation which is performed by applying the various systems engineering technique.

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Recently, development risks have been major problems in large scale system development, due to difficulty in acquiring customers' demand. This paper proposes a new system design methodology, which enables customers to design a high level system behavior on their own, based on demand scenario using Petri-Net description. In this paper, system development mainly progress by decomposition and deployment of demand scenario. The support environment will suggest deployment solutions, which reduce fix interdependence between modules generated in the process of stepwise refinement. We try to provide customers, self-consistent designing method by forming Petri-Net on every stage. Three critical issues of system implementation are addressed: (1) a Top-Down system model, which is able to reflect a new customer demand as needed, (2) a system developing process, which is able to present design guide to reduce development risks, (3) system visualization, which shows developing process and system behavior.

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Manufacturing industry now confronts two antithetical stresses. One is shortening of the duration of product development, and the other is the growth of complexity by changing technology. In these situations, the management of product quality is a very important challenge. We have to focus on not only the output quality but also process quality. In this study, we use an RDC model, which decomposes an engineering process into three elements ; Requirement, Definition and Confirmation. According to this decomposition, the engineering process can be converted from tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge, and we can bring out the uncertainty on engineering design for the improvement of engineering process quality.

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In order to reduce the development period and costs and improve product quality, TICO has been promoting 3D Digitization on product developments from 2000. The aim of 3D Digitization is to construct business processes with proto-typeless production and collaboration by utilizing 3D tools such as 3D CAD, CAE, DA/DF and PDM. This paper describes the activities on Digital Engineering that has been making business processes more efficient from design to production preparation.

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We are developing engineering support system "Digital Engineering Collaboration" to make the framework which enables short time expansion of product line-up. The stretch goals are the efficiency improvement of development together with to move up the development of quality and cost. We are reporting its overview, the status of its main activities and issues.

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CATIA Version 5 is a CAD system utilized with various types of industry mainly on manufacturing industry in the world, and it is placed as main design CAD in a Automotive manufacturer in particular. We suggested CATIA application technology and helped practical use in the design as a part of PLM solution deployment. We focus it on vehicle development in the automotive industry which particularly effective practical use goes ahead through this time and introduce it about the application example and a current trend, directionality of the IT that does not remain in a category of CATIA more.

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We are developing various vehicle models in cooperate with Toyota Motor Corporation. Our main object is to develop the vehicles that are delightfully accepted by many customers in the world-wide market. Doing those challenging activity compels us to face many difficult problems continueously and we make the efforts to resolve them simultaneously. From the view point of design engineering, we explain the way of our approach and show some examples.

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Recently, ergonomic requirements for automobiles have become important. Especially ; the door systems are required to be easy to operate. Then, these two automatic door systems, the Power Back Door (PBD) and the Power Slide Door (PSD) have been developed. In these automatic door systems developments, assessing the coupled behavior of electronic steering systems and mechanical components increases the complexity in meeting multiple design criteria. Our new design processes allow engineers to define and optimize the behavior of these electronic steering systems and their interaction with the complex mechanical assembly. Based on the specification of the control design, our new processes test the controller on the virtual prototype and thoroughly simulate the complete motion range of the controlled mechanism. These processes make available for the door systems development with minimum costs and shortest time to market.

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Number of Manual Transmission (MT) is expected to grow as the car market expends in the development countries. Other aspects, localization of MT production and DCT/A-MT expansion are required to be considered as a part of MT future. Technologies adopted to MT have been changing as the requirements from the car changing continuously, especially those to counteract more powerful engine and to improve gear change quality. Some of the new technologies, MT architecture, way of input load assessment, gear grinding method, synchronizer, adopted to the up-to-date MT are presented in the paper.

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In recent years, the lightening design of each part is expected for the car. We didn't use detailed FEM and tried to use FOA for the lightening design of our products. Then, we corrected and added the feature partly about the existing FOA program. As a result, the effect on the lightening design for the shift lever body was confirmed. This paper describes a series of thinking ways of the lightening design.

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The mid engine rear drive platform using to "MITSUBISHI i" development project was undertaken with the aim of achieving high targets which were not possible to achieve with conventional designs within the regulated subcompact automobile category-namely, highly-modern styling in tandem with interior comfort, light handling, a high level of riding comfort, and all direction collision safety. By relocating the power plant normally found under the front bonnet to the beneath the floor in the luggage compartment, it became possible to simultaneously achieve a one-motion silhouette profile, interior comfort, light handling, consistently high-quality driving comfort, a longer passenger compartment, safety under collision from all directions, long wheelbase, large wheels, small turning radius, and many other high-level elements that would traditional have had to be traded off against each other.

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We propose a method to generate a surface from point cloud or feature curves. This paper describes a surface patch which is obtained by composing the near-field term of the analytic solution of partial differential equation. Due to the property of near-field effect, an arbitrary curve can be used to specify the boundary shape of the patch. We also present a concept to generate a product model from point cloud or designer's sketch. By recognizing feature curves of the object, these curves are used to express the boundary curve of our patch, and then smooth surfaces are generated between these boundary curves. In this paper, a 2-sided patch generation method and its examples are presented.

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We continue to develop the Reverse engineering software MOSAIC. The characteristic functions of MOSAIC generate trimmed NURBS surface quickly without interactive motion, and output suitable CAD like modeling results. At first step, we use the Region Growing with plane proxy for segmentation. At second step, we use the Region Growing with curve surface proxy. We select Non Parameteric Polynomial Surface (NPPS) for curve surface proxy. We think that basic theme generating trimmed NURBS surface quickly was solved.

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