MEEM 5408 – Fall 2004

DESIGN AUTOMATION: THEORIES & IMPLEMENTATION

Product design is becoming an increasingly automated activity and new jobs are constantly arising that require understanding how CAD software is developed. This course teaches fundamental theories and practical techniques used in mechanical CAD software development:

- basic software engineering: data structures, algorithmic complexity, object-oriented programming, graphical user interfaces, CAD software architectures

- geometry: solid model data structures, curve and surface equations, feature recognition

- information modeling and the Internet:: Information modeling standards (STEP, XML), collaborative design, distributed processing

- knowledge-based design synthesis: Forms of design knowledge, constraint satisfaction, optimization techniques, automated design synthesis

- virtual product engineering: virtual environments, integrated multi-physics simulation, tolerances, uncertainty, and risk (as time allows)

As part of the course, several programming assignments will be given and a final project will use the Unigraphics “Open Architecture” to automatically solve a specialized engineering problem of the student's choice. This course is especially useful to students specializing in design and students wishing to integrate CAD into their research.

CREDIT HOURS: 4

INSTRUCTOR: B. Bettig

SEE COURSE WEB PAGE: www.me.mtu.edu/~bettig/MEEM5408/